THIN documentary review

Eryn Yuasa

Language Arts II

Menemac

Thin (2006) is one of those remarkably rare unrestrained documentaries that focused on a subject that is very relevant to problems that are happening today: eating disorders. Director Lauren Greenfield gave viewers footage of the story following 4 women who suffer from eating disorders and their stories while they’re in the Renfrew Center in Florida, a treatment facility.  The film does a fantastic job at showing what treatment truly is like, without sugar coating anything. Thin won the 2006 Documentary Grand Jury prize at the Boston Independent film festival, and also was nominated for an International Documentary Association Award.

The main women who the film is focused on really help the storyline presented by being completely honest and open with their feelings. They share exactly why they ended up in treatment, how being at the center feels for them, and the film follows up what’s happened to their lives after they have been released from the center. Because of the severe nature of the issue, I strongly recommend Thin to be not for younger viewers. There is no rating for this film.  

If you’re looking for a sincerely raw take of the problem that millions of Americans across the country are facing, than this is the film for you. It’s a documentary that captures interest in the beginning, and then keeps it all the way through the end, as you’re anxious to see what happens to these women after recovery. 7 out of 10 star

Angry Letter Rough Draft

2825 Ala Illima Street

Honolulu, Hawaii 96818

November 13, 2012

Brandy Melville USA

Ala Moana Center

Section 2F, Second Floor

Honolulu, Hawaii 96814

Dear Brandy Melville USA management,

Ever since the store has opened in the Ala Moana Center shopping center, I have been a satisfied customer. The quality of the clothes are great for the reasonable prices that they offer. I can’t seem to leave without buying something new. And the style – very beach like and boho – perfectly fits the climate and the people of Hawaii.

However, I remember the first time that I had ventured into the store and picked up a piece of clothing that caught my eye, I realized that there was no size on the price tags. Taking a closer look around the store, I found that a bunch of small signs had been putting up, simply reading, “One size fits most”. There’s only one size to a large majority of your clothing, with an exception to things such as bandeaus and shorts. This makes it hard for people who are outside the normal height and weight range of an adolescent or an adult. For example, there was a Guilianna maxi skirt that I had looked at, before realizing it was 41” in length and had a 12” waistband. While the waistband had fit, considering I’m only 5’, the skirt had basically drowned me with a pool of material at my feet. If the store offered sizes, finding clothes to fit you would be a lot easier. I’ve had to put back a ton of hi-low skirts and maxi skirts both because the one size fits most idea apparently didn’t work with the body type I do have.

I’d like to mention that the problem is not just me being the wrong size to fit into the clothes. It’s the fact that the stores “one size fits most” motto is degrading to those like me who now feel like we’re not the right size that we are supposed to be. It’s adding to the insecurities and doubts that hit teenage girls and even adults who feel like they don’t fit the picture perfect body that society tells us we should have. Just those simple words and the sizing chart of the store can ruin one’s self esteem.

I completely understand that by making your clothes in one size, it can visibly lower production costs. Brandy Melville is, though, a big choice in clothing for the girls all over the island though, and I feel like it would be worth the extra money to make sure all of these girls feel included and don’t get the wrong message from the stores sizing policy.

Please, keep up the good work with making desirable and affordable clothing for people to wear, but I do feel that you shouldn’t be advertising that everyone’s body needs to look a certain way if they want to wear such clothes.

Sincerely,

Eryn Yuasa