To the Bone (2017)

To the Bone Poster

A young woman dealing with anorexia meets an unconventional doctor who challenges her to face her condition and embrace life.

Film Overview
"To the Bone" (2017) is a thought-provoking drama composed and directed by Marti Noxon. The movie checks out the struggles of Ellen, played by Lily Collins, a 20-year-old female battling anorexia. The story deep dives into Ellen's journey with her eating disorder and her desperate effort to handle it.

Plot Summary
Ellen was a separated, creatively inclined, and defiant teen who has actually currently been through several recovery programs only to lose more weight each time. Fighting with her failure to eat and the commitments of her dysfunctional family, the film tracks her journey as she makes one last attempt to conquer her severe eating condition.

Healing Journey
At the insistence of her stepmother, Susan, Ellen goes into a non-traditional recovery program, under the care of the unconventional Dr. Beckham, played by Keanu Reeves. The treatment centre, a group home for youth located in a charming old house, is filled with other teenagers with comparable concerns. Throughout her stay, she meets and bonds with a diverse neighborhood of fellow clients battling their devils, providing her a charged considering her own anorexia.

Romantic Subplot
The film also adds a romantic subplot, where Ellen developes a caring relationship with Luke, an eccentric British ballet dancer with a style for positive thinking. Played by Alex Sharp, Luke is delighted about life and plans for the future, offering a glance of hope and optimism in the movie. Their romantic relationship, however, varies as they struggle in between their love for one another and their individual battles with their eating conditions.

Climax and Conclusion
The considerable pivotal moment occurs when Ellen sees her mother, Judy, and her partner, Olive, for therapy. Here, in a mentally heavy scene, Judy feeds Ellen like a child, symbolizing a desperate but useless effort at connection and healing. Broken and beat, Ellen leaves your house for the desert where she collapses. In a hallucinatory state, she has a dream where she sees a thin and "best" variation of herself passing away before she wakes up.

In the end, Ellen chooses to return to the treatment center, however this time with a restored point of view. She accepts her desperate need for assistance and begins to genuinely grapple with her illness. The movie concludes on a hopeful note, suggesting Ellen is on a path to healing but leaving it open for audience interpretation.

Critical Perspective
"To the Bone" is a heartfelt depiction of the scary reality of consuming disorders. With standout efficiencies from Lily Collins and Keanu Reeves, the movie balances the grittiness of the topic with moments of levity and psychological strength. One of its key strengths is its honest representation of anorexia, making sure to brighten the subtleties and effect of the disorder rather than sensationalize it. It is not without its critics, however, with some issue about the movie's possible influence on vulnerable audiences. Nevertheless, "To the Bone" handles its complex topic with level of sensitivity and promotes an essential discussion about consuming disorders.

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