TO THE BONE

US, 2017, 107 minutes, Colour.

Lily Collins, Keanu Reeves, Alex Sharp, Carrie Preston, Liana Liberato, Lily Taylor.

Directed by Marti Noxon.

A serious film about young women and eating disorders. Publicity notes that the writer-director, Marti Noxon, as well is the star, Lily Collins, both experienced these disorders in their early lives. The film has been careful not to provoke audiences, move towards relapses, but trying to indicate aspects for medical and psychological help.

Lily Collins portrays Ellen, a young woman, poor self-image despite an attractive appearance, artistic talents. Her mother has abandoned her and has moved in with a partner. Her father has remarried but is always very busy (not appearing in the film, avoiding the therapy sessions). His second wife has a teenage daughter – and the two young women are strong friends.

Ellen has gone into community therapy but has responded badly. She has been affected by the suicide of a young woman who was influenced by one of her works of art, the dead girl’s parents sending Ellen pictures.  Ellen seriously blames herself for the death.

Her stepmother, concerned, always talking, anxious, arranges for Ellen to be interviewed by  a renowned specialist – an interesting role, played sympathetically and strongly by Keanu Reeves. Most of the action then takes place within the community, the different young women with their problems and interactions, the regime of the community, therapy sessions, mealtimes which they must attend even if they don’t eat, the various ploys that the young women use to avoid eating or for bringing up their food. There is a young British man, a former ballet dancer now with an injured knee, also part of the community, tending to take charge, befriending Ellen, some great bonding, some clashes.

The family gathers for a for a meeting, the father not turning up, and the doctor noting that except for the young girl, everyone else’s comments tend to be self-focused. The film builds up to a climax, the interactions between the dancer and Ellen, one of the young women being pregnant and having a miscarriage – perhaps influenced by reaction to eating and bringing up the food.

The ending is something of rock bottom, literally in the mountains, for Ellen, but now with her new personal name, Eli, images of herself dying, her actual mother offering to feed her with a bottle just like a child, the interaction of images and reality and her returning for therapy.

1. The title, expectations, the focus on eating disorders, the consequences for those suffering from the disorders, the repercussions for themselves, their families, ways to confront the disorder, individually, in community, family therapy?
2. The affluent background of the family, homes, the mother and her partner in Arizona, their ranch? The centres for therapy? The interiors, rooms? The musical score?
3. Ellen’s story, her mother leaving, the lesbian relationship, Ellen not able to stay with her? Her father marrying again, the influence of her stepmother, anxious and busy, Ellen’s friendship with Kelly, stepsister but sisters? The father and his absence, even from therapy sessions?
4. Ellen her age, her talent, art, the story of the suicide, the upset parents sending pictures to Helen, her blaming herself?
5. The attempts at therapy, communal living, regimes, Ellen’s reaction?
6. The reputation of Dr Beckham, the initial encounter, his straight words, Ellen and her reaction, offhand, returning, the decision to go into the community? The low expectations?
7. The community, the encounter with Luke, British, ballet dancer, injured knee, eating disorder? Her ship is showing her round? His story, friendship? The other members of the group, the girl with the, the bright young woman but hiding her bag under her bed, the pregnant young woman, the members of the staff, Lobo and her management, the woman running the therapy sessions?
8. The mealtimes, Ellen and her reactions, the devices to avoid eating, obligatory presence, but not necessarily eating? The conversations, personal stories? Ellen, interactions with the others, with Luke, the bonding, the merit system and his taking her to the meal, his taunting her with her favourite food, the drinking at the restaurant? The tour, the kiss, her reaction, considering him gay? Building of the friendship?
9. The issue of her name, her change of name to Eli?
10. Family therapy session, her mother and her explanations, her partner, the strong stances? The hostility with the stepmother? Kelly and her offer of sympathy? The absent father?
11. The interviews with Dr Beckham, his understanding, his challenge, straight talking?
12. The pregnant woman, the miscarriage, Luke and Ellen finding her after their dispute, the effect on Eli, her walking out, Luke and his appeal?
13. Going to Arizona, with her mother and partner, the tent, her mother and the issue of feeding her, the bottle, a symbol of maternal reconciliation?
14. Going out on the rocks, desperate, her imagination, seeing herself as dead, imagining Luke helping her? Her decision? The return, the welcome? A hopeful ending – with Eli taking responsibility for her life, some ambitions and achievement?