Desire for Beauty

Such a beautifully shot film. This film blurs the borders between documentary and feature film with "talking head" interviews, obs-doc and docu-drama sequences, all beautifully rendered on the screen.

The real-life characters are presented in a warm and empathetic manner, with their anxieties about the way they look explored in a multitude of ways.

What is most interesting about the film is the neutral tone in which the story is presented. We are made to empathize and understand the subjects of this film, we understand their need and can rationalize it as human. But cosmetic surgery is not a black and white subject, and from one moment to the next the audiences judgments might waver from understanding to dismay. We realize the physical pain and the dangers involved in these procedures, and we wonder why any person would put them through such an ordeal.

Ultimately, the quest for physical perfection is seen as a basic human desire, but we are all too human for it.

I had the privilege to see the film more than once, so I have no intention to repeat what was already said. What I would like to share is a bit of my observations while some teenage friend of mine was seeing the 'Pragnienie Piękna' for the first time. Not only had she remained silent for the whole movie but also I could see that she went on a journey with all of the main characters, trying to find a bit of 'herself' in those stories. When the operation frames had started she nearly covered her face with a blanket – not feeling ready to see the rest of the action and was likely to burst into tears when they were taking off the plaster from Kamila's face after the nose correction surgery. The film occurred to be emotionally appealing towards nearly 18 years old, sensible, teenage girl as well as to her 'older' friend. At the very end she said: 'Yes that kind of things really happen in everyman life's'.

Desire for Beauty, in an unobtrusive and balanced way, highlights the complex social attitude with a "double" vengeance - once for the shortcomings of beauty, and the second - for their willingness to undergo surgery. For me, as a spectator, it was a multidimensional experience - through the characters struggling with their complexes, as well as their fear of surgery and reactions from their surrounding environment. It's an unordinary documentary and it doesn't look for cheap sensationalism or scandal. Instead, It's a very balanced, even slightly philosophical film about the lack of self-acceptation, false beauty and social pressure. Disturbing and with a clear message, Can't wait to recommend it to every woman I know.

I have to admit before watching it, I thought it was going to be about something superficial but once I pressed play, I was drawn (thanks first to the music) into the all story and the emotions of it. Honestly, I did not expect to be as touched as I was. This documentary addresses numerous issues we have as a society and the search for 'perfection' and what lengths we'll go through to get there. It works as an excellent reminder of the "disorder" that a large proportion of the population still lives from day to day. We could call it "a beauty disorder". The nature of the material is depressive but it's shoot with an impeccable taste and carefulness, like the cut of a precise surgeon. I was a bit surprised by the outcome and think this is a terribly interesting topic for discussion. Highly recommend it!

Unordinary one - mix of acting and documentary, recovering deepest human's thoughts concerning relations between body, mind and socialization. Strong point of this movie is uncovering ... and uncovering reasons of what exactly beauty is in our life. Give a lot of ways to think forward, making emphasize on this very contemporary problem. Movie has very strong characters, very alive, just like one of us. Talantly shaped it is also has deepest senses and can be recommended to everyone who ever think about what is being beauty and what exactly does it mean. I think that this kind of movies is something really necessary to modern society just because we have those unsolved questions in the air - anyway this one is something fresh and expected by audience.