Perfection

Gr 7 Up—Differing from most of the distributor's films, this production was created for students by students. Each of the three young women featured describes and acts out her real-life eating or food disorder. The young women, Shannon, Steph, and Colleen, are all friends with director Monica Zinn, who made this documentary at the age of 17 in 2011. At the end of the film, viewers learn that although each was seriously affected by her behavior (which include not eating, using diet pills and other pharmaceuticals, and bingeing and purging), all are recovering and pursuing successful lives. Expert testimony is delivered by social worker Cheryl Hunsberger, who describes one common symptom to eating disorders: the desire to control the size of one's body. The authenticity of the presentations was undoubtedly a factor in this film winning the best documentary award at the Virginia Student Film Festival in 2012. Viewers will feel as though candid and thoughtful guest speakers have come to address a class. This film is supplemented by a teachers resource book PDF, which incorporates a program summary, student activities, student fact sheets, and more.