About Thin (HBO)

"Thin" is a 2006 American documentary directed by Lauren Greenfield and distributed by HBO. The movie chronicles the lives of four women with eating disorders seeking recovery at a treatment center in Florida.

Plot and Summary

The documentary delves deep into the struggles of these women as they battle life-threatening eating disorders and the emotional trauma that goes along with it. The movie does not shy away from the raw and troubling reality of anorexia and bulimia, providing viewers a disturbing glimpse into the tumultuous journey of the patients at the Renfrew Residential Treatment Center.

Making / Production

Directed by the famed Lauren Greenfield, "Thin" is cinematographically striking and brutally honest. It took over a year to film and capture the intricate details surrounding the complex world of eating disorders. Greenfield's directing style showcases her unwavering commitment to portraying the reality of eating disorders and the struggle for recovery.

Actors

• Alisa Williams Played as Herself. Alisa's portrayal of her struggle with eating disorders is both gripping and heartbreaking.
• Brittany Robinson - Also played herself, and she has portrayed her battle with anorexia nervosa so sincerely it's impossible not to empathize with her.
• Polly Williams - Again, playing herself, Polly's tough battle with bulimia is depicted brilliantly.
• Shelly Guillory - Herself, her journey from a registered nurse to a patient suffering from eating disorders illustrates a tragic irony.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• Thin's director, Lauren Greenfield, was given an "all-access pass" to the Renfrew Center which helped her in capturing the raw essence of the facility and its patients.
• The patients portrayed in the documentary were not actors but real patients who were undergoing treatment for their eating disorders.
• Shelly Guillory, one of the featured patients had to be hospitalized during the filming due to the severity of her eating disorder.

Quotes

• "My anorexia is something that will be a part of me for the rest of my life. It's just how I deal with it is going to change." - Brittany Robinson
• "If I can't be thin, I don't want to be anything." - Alisa Williams
• "I don't think of myself as anorexic, you know. Just because that's not how I picture anorexic people..." - Polly Williams

Music, Soundtrack

The soundtrack for "Thin" was composed by Miriam Cutler, and was praised for its sensitive, melancholic tunes that perfectly compliment the film's solemn tone.