Do I Look Fat?

Gay men are often obsessive about their bodies to a ridiculous degree, and this film looks at when obsession becomes disorder. Although perhaps a little too psychologistic for some tastes (it wears its origins in a psychologist-led self-help group a little too much on its sleeve), the film makes an admirable attempt to ground its critique in the body-beautiful centered gay culture of San Francisco. (At times the blame-laying from the film's subjects on their domineering mothers and alcoholic or absent fathers is too uncritical, as in "my mother made me a bulimic homosexual, and if you give her the wool, she'll make you one too". But having said that, there is also a lot of critical attention from the film maker given to consumer culture, particularly in its gay drag.) It's nice to see a documentary about gay men that is not about sex or sexuality specifically, and the men in this film rarely come across as cardboard cutouts. This is a tribute to Travis's sensitive interviewing, but also to his editing skills. There are some fabulous inter-cuts of 1950's television imagery of the "Leave it to Beaver" ilk, as well as an ironic use of the musical soundtrack (the section using "Close to You" is particularly sharply observed). The best moment: the crazy body-building supply store guy completely missing the irony in the questions being asked.

Not one single social group reveres and objectifies the Male Body Beautiful more than the GLBT community, and there are several documentaries that go into the subject to varying degrees. None, however, approach it with quite the tack that DO I LOOK FAT? takes, which is to look hard (if not nearly hard enough) at the Taboos That Dare Not Speak Their Names: body dysmorphia, anorexia, bulimia and other eating disorders, and how these maladies affect and decimate the gay community-at-large, resulting in everything from depression, self-mutilation, alcoholism, domestic abuse, AIDS infection rates, you name it.

THE SOUND OF MUSIC this is not, which is probably why this doc hasn't received the attention or exposure it truly deserves. I had never heard a thing about myself, before I received an invitation from a friend to attend a screening and a discussion group afterward, which was very informative and enlightening...maybe even more so than the documentary itself.

Which leads me to probably the one complaint I have about it: that the way it roots itself into one location (San Francisco) dilutes the power of its message somewhat, since it opens the door to the possibility of alienating or leaving cold those viewers who are not familiar with or have no investment in the SF/Castro scene or its GLBT community.

Other than that, the interviews with subjects from different backgrounds, age groups and nationalities, combined with retro stock footage from the Fifties and beyond delivers a simple yet powerful message about a universal truth that faces anyone concerned about their weight and their dietary habits...whether you are a "gym god" or someone who has struggled with weight your entire life. It's never about what you're eating, but ALWAYS about "WHAT'S eating YOU."

A documentary I would highly recommend for its educational value, to GLBT people, and also to those who are GLBT-friendly. You'll be surprised at what you might learn from seeing this.