thanks for sending those two amazing Lindy West pieces my way, I had missed them! I really hope it’s Austin Butler’s win so we don’t ever have to think about this film again
While I agree with this personal viewpoint, I'd like to have a healthy discussion and disagree. I, on the contrary, like this film very much, as it is meant to be viewed in this exact view; honest, multi-faceted, and thought provoking. If you notice in the film, "the Whale" himself mainly lectured, and valued honesty and authenticity. Which is what he valued most in his "evil" daughter. Notice in the film, that everyone that surrounds him is thin, and displays a very straight forward attitude towards him; which is what he asks for in the film. Which is how life often feels, or is perceived as an obese/morbidly obese person. And, you get to see his warped mindset, as he has fallen into grief, and depression because he believed Alan was the only person who loved him unconditionally. He was a shitty guy, and he knew he was. No one denied it, even though they tried to a multiple times. The movie was about being authentic and honest. He was grief stricken and depressed. He gave up, became a shit dad, an unhealthy human being, and he had given up on himself. When a person has reached a point where they no longer feel they have anything to live for, or that life would be better without them, they have programmed their brain to believe that; its very hard to convince the otherwise. I was proud of the realism because you saw moments in the film, where he contemplates if he actually wants to continue his spiral, but ultimately he decides he's at the end-keep going. This movie was not about body positivity; which to me, that means positivity for one's self, to love their temple as it is, or enough to change the things they feel is oppressive or unhealthy (again, this is what it means to me); this film was about a man, who had chosen binge eating as both a coping mechanism, and a means to an end, because he felt, that he no longer had anything else to contribute to the lives of the people he loved. He allowed himself to believe that no one else could love him except a man who struggled with his sexuality and religious beliefs. He refused to allow the love of those around him fill the void that Alan left behind. It's a great discussion piece that helps understand the mindset of depression, grief, and eating disorders.
Yes, you’re so right, Kate. A very timely and necessary piece.
Despite its high-brow façade, it cannot disguise what it is; simply another shallow ‘fat-joke-TM.'
This seems to be an increasing and worrying trend now; masking idiotic and exploitative films under the guise of something 'culturally significant.’
It's the current year already, and thus it’s getting harder to comprehend why such individuals, despite their differences, are treated with such morbid fear, fascination and disgust; as if they alone represent the end product of a failed system; that it is ok to vent satirical spleen on them, when we should admit that it's our own collective failure that has enabled this in the first place.
We do not laugh at alcoholics, or victims of the opioid epidemic which has devastated so many communities: We quite rightly understand them as victims of a predatory system beyond their control, one that uses complex social engineering and huge resources to further its aims to the detriment of wider society.
Yes of course, obesity is a huge problem; it is one of the leading contributors to many deadly diseases.
Nobody is disputing that...
But, in laughing along at their pain, we become complicit in their exploitation from ruthless corporations and oligarchs, who of course benefit from such states of physical and psychological misery.
Worse still, our ‘enlightened’ film makers and cultural icons – those we mistakenly entrust to reflect a deeper and meaningful interpretation of the world, would never dare punch up to take on those truly responsible for the state we find ourselves in, and this film is just another sad reflection of that.
Thank you! And, like many authors working in this space, I do think the risks of fatness are frequently overstated. I highly recommend Ragen Chastain's newsletter on this issue. Thanks again
Thanks for this excellent piece. I'm livid about the film existing, much less winning two Oscars. I don't care if Fraser is a "nice guy," he's complicit in this film. The fact that anyone could think this is a "compassionate" portrait of a fat person makes me physically ill. Sigh.
Thank you for this article. I've been confused by all the people saying they shouldn't have used a fat suit because from my perspective it would have been unreasonable to ask an actor to put on *that* much weight just for a role. So then I started wondering if maybe we shouldn't be talking about the internal struggles that might lead to such weight gain. Because that's what I thought the movie was going to be about (I haven't watched it yet and now I won't). I thought it was going to be this deep exploration of the human spirit and how people may find themselves in such a position through no fault of their own. Not just another "ew look, a fat guy" movie. Every time I think we are making progress...
Yes, thank you--I think this is in fact very well-put in terms of the vast gap between some people's reasonable hopes for the film, and what it actually achieved. Just such a huge disappointment. I also think West's Butt News piece is brilliant on the dangers/harms of depicting very fat people in stereotypical ways (e.g., as traumatized and having binge eating disorder), even if those stereotypes are sometimes instantiated by actual people. Anyway, thanks again!
Your point about stereotypes is very valid. I happen to know several people who LIKE themselves “fat” (and I know this because they’ve TOLD me) but everything in the media is telling them they SHOULDNT like themselves that way and that’s just dumb. Why is it okay for me to like myself thin but not okay for others to like themselves fat? I like tattoos and purple hair, some people don’t. People should be allowed to make themselves look how THEY want to look. But that’s just my perspective and I’ve definitely got thin privilege so take it with a grain of salt
That didn’t come out well. The “situation” I was referring to was his estrangement and depression, not his weight. I thought it was going to be about his feelings is what I’m clumsily trying to say.
I read the play and was horrified by Ellie. I wondered if they'd try to make her more human, less demon spawn in the movie, but clearly, they did not. I am not going to lie... I kind of hate Sadie Sink for being willing to even play this character. But then, I'd say the same thing about Fraser, if I'm honest. It's such a shit show of fatphobic, homophobic, asshattery... I don't know why anyone would be willing to take on these characters, and how they could then have the audacity to claim this movie is somehow compassionate. And yet, here we are, and Fraser's an Oscar winner for this pile of steaming shit.
It sounds like the only thing that they really changed is that Thomas, the missionary, wasn't Mormon like he was in the play. Yeah, because THAT was the big problem with this story.
PS. Thank you for writing about the problematic character that is Ellie. I haven't seen a lot of people even mention this angle, and your take on her is spot on!
thanks for sending those two amazing Lindy West pieces my way, I had missed them! I really hope it’s Austin Butler’s win so we don’t ever have to think about this film again
Agreed! And aren't they amazing? She's a brilliant treasure
Yes. I read them in reverse chronological order, first the perfect Guardian piece and then the HILARIOUS raw take down. She's undeniable.
fuuuck they rewarded that hate crime of a movie w two oscars. i really hoped that would not happen, certainly that Austin Butler had it. ugh.
The worst. ARGGGGH
While I agree with this personal viewpoint, I'd like to have a healthy discussion and disagree. I, on the contrary, like this film very much, as it is meant to be viewed in this exact view; honest, multi-faceted, and thought provoking. If you notice in the film, "the Whale" himself mainly lectured, and valued honesty and authenticity. Which is what he valued most in his "evil" daughter. Notice in the film, that everyone that surrounds him is thin, and displays a very straight forward attitude towards him; which is what he asks for in the film. Which is how life often feels, or is perceived as an obese/morbidly obese person. And, you get to see his warped mindset, as he has fallen into grief, and depression because he believed Alan was the only person who loved him unconditionally. He was a shitty guy, and he knew he was. No one denied it, even though they tried to a multiple times. The movie was about being authentic and honest. He was grief stricken and depressed. He gave up, became a shit dad, an unhealthy human being, and he had given up on himself. When a person has reached a point where they no longer feel they have anything to live for, or that life would be better without them, they have programmed their brain to believe that; its very hard to convince the otherwise. I was proud of the realism because you saw moments in the film, where he contemplates if he actually wants to continue his spiral, but ultimately he decides he's at the end-keep going. This movie was not about body positivity; which to me, that means positivity for one's self, to love their temple as it is, or enough to change the things they feel is oppressive or unhealthy (again, this is what it means to me); this film was about a man, who had chosen binge eating as both a coping mechanism, and a means to an end, because he felt, that he no longer had anything else to contribute to the lives of the people he loved. He allowed himself to believe that no one else could love him except a man who struggled with his sexuality and religious beliefs. He refused to allow the love of those around him fill the void that Alan left behind. It's a great discussion piece that helps understand the mindset of depression, grief, and eating disorders.
Thanks for this. I disagree, obviously, but I appreciate your offering your perspective, and the food for proverbial thought
Thanks, Kate, for this articulate discussion that I referred to in my latest (new-ish) newsletter. https://heidischauster.substack.com/p/spring-freshness-from-nourishing
🙏❤️
Yes, you’re so right, Kate. A very timely and necessary piece.
Despite its high-brow façade, it cannot disguise what it is; simply another shallow ‘fat-joke-TM.'
This seems to be an increasing and worrying trend now; masking idiotic and exploitative films under the guise of something 'culturally significant.’
It's the current year already, and thus it’s getting harder to comprehend why such individuals, despite their differences, are treated with such morbid fear, fascination and disgust; as if they alone represent the end product of a failed system; that it is ok to vent satirical spleen on them, when we should admit that it's our own collective failure that has enabled this in the first place.
We do not laugh at alcoholics, or victims of the opioid epidemic which has devastated so many communities: We quite rightly understand them as victims of a predatory system beyond their control, one that uses complex social engineering and huge resources to further its aims to the detriment of wider society.
Yes of course, obesity is a huge problem; it is one of the leading contributors to many deadly diseases.
Nobody is disputing that...
But, in laughing along at their pain, we become complicit in their exploitation from ruthless corporations and oligarchs, who of course benefit from such states of physical and psychological misery.
Worse still, our ‘enlightened’ film makers and cultural icons – those we mistakenly entrust to reflect a deeper and meaningful interpretation of the world, would never dare punch up to take on those truly responsible for the state we find ourselves in, and this film is just another sad reflection of that.
All the best, Max
Thank you! And, like many authors working in this space, I do think the risks of fatness are frequently overstated. I highly recommend Ragen Chastain's newsletter on this issue. Thanks again
Thanks for this excellent piece. I'm livid about the film existing, much less winning two Oscars. I don't care if Fraser is a "nice guy," he's complicit in this film. The fact that anyone could think this is a "compassionate" portrait of a fat person makes me physically ill. Sigh.
Agreed. And thank you SO much!
Thank you for this article. I've been confused by all the people saying they shouldn't have used a fat suit because from my perspective it would have been unreasonable to ask an actor to put on *that* much weight just for a role. So then I started wondering if maybe we shouldn't be talking about the internal struggles that might lead to such weight gain. Because that's what I thought the movie was going to be about (I haven't watched it yet and now I won't). I thought it was going to be this deep exploration of the human spirit and how people may find themselves in such a position through no fault of their own. Not just another "ew look, a fat guy" movie. Every time I think we are making progress...
Yes, thank you--I think this is in fact very well-put in terms of the vast gap between some people's reasonable hopes for the film, and what it actually achieved. Just such a huge disappointment. I also think West's Butt News piece is brilliant on the dangers/harms of depicting very fat people in stereotypical ways (e.g., as traumatized and having binge eating disorder), even if those stereotypes are sometimes instantiated by actual people. Anyway, thanks again!
Your point about stereotypes is very valid. I happen to know several people who LIKE themselves “fat” (and I know this because they’ve TOLD me) but everything in the media is telling them they SHOULDNT like themselves that way and that’s just dumb. Why is it okay for me to like myself thin but not okay for others to like themselves fat? I like tattoos and purple hair, some people don’t. People should be allowed to make themselves look how THEY want to look. But that’s just my perspective and I’ve definitely got thin privilege so take it with a grain of salt
100%. Very important point.
That didn’t come out well. The “situation” I was referring to was his estrangement and depression, not his weight. I thought it was going to be about his feelings is what I’m clumsily trying to say.
I read the play and was horrified by Ellie. I wondered if they'd try to make her more human, less demon spawn in the movie, but clearly, they did not. I am not going to lie... I kind of hate Sadie Sink for being willing to even play this character. But then, I'd say the same thing about Fraser, if I'm honest. It's such a shit show of fatphobic, homophobic, asshattery... I don't know why anyone would be willing to take on these characters, and how they could then have the audacity to claim this movie is somehow compassionate. And yet, here we are, and Fraser's an Oscar winner for this pile of steaming shit.
It sounds like the only thing that they really changed is that Thomas, the missionary, wasn't Mormon like he was in the play. Yeah, because THAT was the big problem with this story.
PS. Thank you for writing about the problematic character that is Ellie. I haven't seen a lot of people even mention this angle, and your take on her is spot on!