Thin

About Thin

"Thin" is an emotionally riveting documentary released in 2006. Directed by Lauren Greenfield, this film offers a poignant and raw glimpse into the lives of women dealing with eating disorders at the Renfrew Center in Florida. The film follows the personal journeys of four women battling anorexia and bulimia, highlighting the ongoing struggles between the patients and their disease, families, and staff.

Making / Production

"Thin" is a result of a longitudinal study by acclaimed photographer Lauren Greenfield. The film was a part of Greenfield’s multimedia project that also involved a photographic book. The production took Greenfield and her crew several months of intensive observation at the Renfrew Center, establishing strong relationships with both the patients and staff members.

Actors

As a documentary, "Thin" features real-life individuals, not actors. The main subjects of the film include:

• Polly Williams - battles long-standing anorexia, shown to have a strained relationship with her mother.
• Alisa Williams - struggles with anorexia and bulimia, often shown as highly resistant to the therapy.
• Brittany Robinson - the youngest patient, battles bulimia, portrayed as unsure and unstable about her commitment to recovery.
• Shelly Guillory - a nurse who's battling anorexia and bulimia, portrayed as determined to recover but constantly struggles with relapse.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• "Thin" was developed from a photographic project by Lauren Greenfield which also resulted in a book named "Thin."
• The film captures the women's struggles over a period of six months, offering a candid look into the course of their treatment.
• The documentary was not only set in the Renfrew Center, but Greenfield was also given complete access to all therapy sessions and meetings within the Center.

Awards

Although not characterized by an array of awards, "Thin" was indeed worthy of recognition. It was nominated for an Emmy for Outstanding Cinematography for Nonfiction Programming in 2007.

Quotes

• "I love the anorexia. I hate the anorexia. And I love it and I hate it." - Polly.
• "I cannot be trusted. My brain cannot be trusted." - Shelly.
• "The way you guys can be trusted with pills, I can’t be trusted with a meal plan." - Alisa.

Music, Soundtrack

• The film's hauntingly appropriate music was composed by Miriam Cutler, known for her work across numerous documentaries.
• The background score is characterized by minimalist but moving tones, reflecting the gravity of the film's subject matter.