"I was kind of mad at the way things had this arbitrary development ... That's what happens in real life... I thought a lot about this movie after I saw it -- days afterwards, a week afterwards."-Richard Roeper, EBERT & ROEPER
"FAT GIRL is uncompromising and unforgiving, but ultimately more self-destructive than any of its characters."
-Jay Carr, BOSTON GLOBE"There is a jolting surprise in discovering that this film has free will, and can end as it wants, and that its director can make her point, however brutally."
-Roger Ebert, CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
Catherine Breillat has described this film as a story about "a soul with two bodies." FAT GIRL is a frank exploration of sisterhood and adolescent sexuality that has shocked audiences and enraged censors. Revolving around the complicated relationship between Anais, a twelve-year-old ugly duckling, and her gorgeous older sister Elena, FAT GIRL is uncompromising, brutal, and unflinchingly honest. The tension between Anais and Elena grows when Elena meets Fernando, an Italian law student, who seduces her with promises of love while Anais bears witness to the corruption of her sister's 'innocence.'
After viewing "Fat Girl", I left the theatre not nearly as shaken as I thought I would have. It wasn't until later when some of the scenes kept playing in my mind did the movie really take its toll on me. The fact that the film began in the style of most mainstream films, fun music, engaging story, etc., completely through me off what was to come later on in the film. What truly disturbed me was the images of the young adolescent girls nude. It irked me how they were shown in a sexual manner, especially the scenes in which Fernando is seducing young Elena. Another disturbing, yet weird, part of the film were the breakfast and lunch scenes. In my case, I find watching or hearing people eat to gross me out. Don't ask why, it is just one of my strange quirks. The scene in which Elena seems to force feed her the bread really got to me, telling her that food is her distraction. The ending came as a surprise for me, even though some people say that they could tell they could see the ending coming. It almost seemed like a dream sequence how the man chopped through the glass and killed Elena then her mother. The rape scene didn't truly feel like a rape scene since Anais seemed to accept it. While this scene was happening I recalled the line she said about wanting to have her first sexual experience to be with someone she did not love, because she wanted to feel stupid and regret it. It almost felt like she saw this as her chance to sleep with someone whom she does not love.
ReplyDeleteI liked the film overall, but the pace was very thrown off by the abruptness of the ending murder/rape sequence. I just did not expect the film to go in that direction. Anais was much more worldly than her older sister, who was completely shocked by Fernando's actions, meanwhile Anais was not. She never tried to console her sister, she merely told her the blunt truth, for example she said that Fernando had already forgotten about her. Elena's naivety was sort of irritating for me, and seemed more indicative of the younger sister. I interpret the final scene as Anais' fantasy. She is she's the trucker who breaks into the car drive by before she nods off to sleep. Her sister, although friendly at times, treated her very poorly and never considered her feelings a single time. She was only nice when it was convenient for her, and ridiculed Anais for being fat. Although Anais seemed to care for her sister and mother, I think she was jealous, nonetheless, and her fantasy was to see a man pay no attention to Elena, and be sexual with her. Fernando is much older than both of the girls, and was in many ways a pedophile. Both girls were underage but he never paid any attention to Anais, mainly because Elena is much more attractive. I actually preferred the alternate ending in the gynecologist's office because it is a little more clear. She is very defiant in the original ending, which left me with a lot of questions and seemed very strange, because I thought that a rape had definitely taken place, whether Anais went on to enjoy it or not.
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ReplyDeleteI find it very difficult to accurately asses my feelings towards FAT GIRL, a film that I found bracingly haunting, strangely beautiful, and drenched in a certain somber. Although I think there is definitely a tension-infused dynamic between Anais and her sister, I also think Breillat tries to highlight the intense intimacy they share as sisters, each wanting to have some possession or hold on the other. There were certain scenes between the two of them that seemed enveloped in a warmth that was altogether striking and even overwhelming; I sensed Breillat trying to really tap into this "intensity" throughout FAT GIRL, in a way that was rare and authentic. I read Anais as a character who felt incomplete, unworthy and inadequate, and her sister as someone who really believed she was complete but was in truth empty and "sparse". And perhaps one reason Anais and Elena have such strong passion towards each other - a passion that ranges and stretches from hate to devotion, and all in between - is that each recognizes what the other lacks. I would even argue against claims that pinpoint Elena as a completely antagonistic figure, although she many time uses this "recognition" to exploit Anais. She is cruel, but I also found her fragile, and I don't believe that Breillat harbors hate towards her; rather, I think there's a deep pity in the way she dissects and portrays Elena. Another thing I found fascinating was how personal the piece felt, and I strongly sensed that Breillat was drawing on her own experiences with her family and the emotions she had towards her siblings while growing up, transgressing from childhood into adulthood. Undoubtedly, I would say, Breillat indentifies herself with Anais, and her sympathy towards her is arguably present in FAT GIRL from the very onset, and it is also a crucial and driving pathos of the film. Anais is herself a truly a beautiful character, and she embodies an old, wallowing, trapped, pensive, physically powerful being, every glance as if she's taking the world in all at once and simultaneously dismissing it melancholically. These contemplations about Anais and Elena always end up bringing me back to the film's ending. I though the massacre of Elena and the mother was reminiscent to the act of sex - something that happens so mightily, forcefully, fiercely; something that is brief but painful and consequential; a shattering of the glass, a shattering of oneself; murder as power and domination. There something so deeply tragic, though, about what is lost in that moment, in those few minutes - not just Anais's virginity (something cherished-like, coveted), but Elena's death. All the close "intensity" and "intimacy" gone, all the times they laughed together or cried together or held each other, gone forever; and the fact that the film wastes very little time lamenting Elena's death and the sisters' "separation" from one another makes the sense of loss feel absolutely throbbing. Still, I couldn't help but find some kind of beauty in the way Anais's character finds a type of inner-fulfillment through her rape. On a superficial level Breillat may be viewing the act of rape through a different and less-accepted lens, but more importantly, it is almost as if Anais finds her "completion" through this rape. And as the rush of it all overwhelms her, all she can do is grasp on to her rapist, cling on to him. Something beyond bodily-reactions gets expulsed into and inside of Anais at that moment, and it is hard describe what exactly that is - but it is something that gets to the very core of herself.
ReplyDeleteComing into this screening, I thought it would be the most difficult to watch. I was under the impression – wrongfully so – that the film would be overtly cruel to its central character. And considering that the film revolves around an adolescent female made me even more uncomfortable heading into the screening. I began to recall some of our past films and how they display suck shocking images and views of the world/humanity…and the idea of integrating these characteristics with a “child’s world” seemed disturbing, inappropriate, and maybe unfair. However, I believe that the film was really striving to side with Anais – rather than abuse or talk down to her.
ReplyDeleteThe final scene in particular stood out to me – as paralleling some of the other autuers we’ve seen. I can’t really see the final moments of the film as punishing Anais – much less knowingly punishing her. However, you can definitely sense the presence of Briellat in the lengthy highway sequence. Honestly, I found that to be the most suspenseful moment that Briellat constructs – only to undermine audience expectation with an “out of nowhere” ending. To a certain extent, the shots of the trip back home do not need to be in the film… but I feel they are doing something extraordinary. They present this sense of impending doom (a sense of inevitability) for Anais and the entire film world. What’s more striking, in making these really obvious cuts (in the highway scene) and then withholding what would appear to be its logical conclusion (since there is no highway accident) Briellat is, in a way, toying with the audience and the characters. It seems clear at this point in the film that Briellat is having a definite say about what goes on from this moment forward. She is actually bringing all these things (characters, circumstance) together. I think that’s why the film felt so in-your-face for the last few minutes – perhaps it even felt contrived to some. And this is further shown in the end as Anais loses her virginity and a truck driver [SPOILER] breaks the car window and kills her family, an instance that is unflinchingly violent because of its surprise and immediacy. And it appears, strongly to me, that Briellat took part in this violence….that she has brought it out.
Fat Girl
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed this film, because the character development was on point. Even though it was kind of short the filmmakers were able to develop these characters into relatable people. first the older sister has a problem with losing her virginity to a complete ass, which a lot of women go through and then the younger sister being over weight and kind of in the shadows of the family which is something many people feel that they are in the shadows.
The characters that I really did not understand were the parents I mean they really showed no compassion for the daughters. The first example of this is when the younger daughter is crying and the dad does not ask her what is going on rather he asks the mother what her problem is. I found that to be extremely cold I mean who really does that? Now I don’t know if this is racist or what or if it is just this class that is having me think that it is to do the cultural differences in Americans vs. the French but I feel like that dad is really harsh on the daughter and he pretty much says she better suck it up, and really does not care about the fact that she is crying but more so annoyed with it.
Then this girl loses her virginity to a scum bag and has her heart broken and the mom is like if you must cry do it silently. I mean what the hell is that? The girl wants to die and you just tell her to shit up. I thought that was way too harsh for the circumstances.
The only thing that I did not like about the film was the ending I thought that it was completely out of place. I mean I guess that is extreme in nature but I don’t know it still falls out of place for me. Also, the little girl’s reaction was just so weird. I mean I know she peed herself, but that is just some crazy stuff. I mean I know she hated her mother but to do nothing was crazy. Everyone says they hate their parents at some point in their lives but if it were a life or death situation they would have done something. I mean maybe she froze. I have never been in such a situation so I cannot really say what I would have done, but I would like to think that I would have at least tried to save my family.
Really, I did like the film. I thought it brought a family dynamic that is often lost in American films where not everything ends up how it is suppose to be. It brought a sense of chaos into my life and I liked that. The elements in the film as far as production added to my senses for example when they pull over for the young girl to throw up the racing noise of huge semis flying by really added a sense of madness to the scene, which I thought was important.
Fat girl was a very honest movie I think. It was slow and gritty but enjoyable. the ending came as a shock when I initially watched it but it was definately earned. The girl hinted at this fantasy, there was an ominous feel to the whole car ride, and after all, it was shown in this class. Something we didn't talk about but i enjoyed was after they stop alongside the road, the older daughter wishes the mother dead, and then Breillat shows the mom on the highway with trucks speeding by behind her. It is the classic look of a character being run over. It was clear foreshadowing and hilarious. I don't think the girl was raped, and I think the attacker definately picks up on this vibe. I read the window crash as a rescuing of this girl. He is saving her from her abused, mundane life where she is overshadowed and honestly, the most mature of the family. I thought the pool scene was funny as well and captured her age well, which is forgotten for most of the movie.
ReplyDeleteI think the film could've have done better with a broader plot and maybe a faster pace. Essentially that bedroom scene was all you needed.
FATTYYYYYY FAT FATSOOO. Dirty chicks don't get laid is what I got from this movie, Trae.
ReplyDeleteBut seriously, besides the fact that Anais's boobs were weird, I sort of did enjoy this movie. It was a break from all the crazy stuff we've been watching, until of course, the end. Which was awesome by the way.
I most enjoyed the relationship of the two girls. Elena's two sides: the older sister and the slut played really well. It was one of the most honest sibling relationships I've seen in film. It was three-dimensional; showing all the sides of two contemporary people who've lived together their whole lives.
The kindness that they show for each other right before the rapist breaks the windshield of the car was very touching. I think Anais, even though she's the younger sister, is the more mature one; being able to forgive her older, slutty sister.
This is one of these movies that I have to watch more than once to actually go "oooh, I get what's going on for real here"
Which is good and bad at the same time. Regardless, it made for a great discussion in class which is what I most appreciate in a movie. Especially these Extreme stuff.
I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised with this film. The title totally throws you off, but it was interesting to say the least. I can’t say that I ‘enjoyed’ it, but it certainly stuck with me for a while. It was an unconventional way to represent a coming-of-age story, but it worked. It’s a really ‘quiet’ and slow film but it’s pretty honest and true to itself.
ReplyDeleteThe character of Anais is so quietly assuming and knowing and worldly that she seems almost unrealistic. She was kind of like the quiet version of Juno, except far-less annoying and with a much more realistic view on the rest of the world. I also have to totally agree with the idea that Elena was raped, because that’s what immediately popped into my head when we were watching it. She was no way in control of that situation and her thoughts were totally manipulated, that’s honestly why I think Anais cries in the bed. On the other hand, Anais scene in the end is kind of odd to grasp. I can completely see why you would believe that it’s not a rape, because she seems totally in control, especially considering her defiance at the end. But you know, technically, it is legally rape. Now I feel like I’m just splitting hairs. Still a well-done film.
I enjoyed this film. I liked the story line and it seemed more light than the other dark films we have watched. The one argument I do have is that many articles I have read and people I have spoken to about the film have the idea that Anais was not raped at the end of the film. I can see the idea of the film, showing two different kind of situations of rape however I totally believe that Anais is raped by the truck driver. The way in which it was filmed may lean towards arguments that she led him to the forrest and that she knew what was going to happen and the fact that she states that she wants her first time to be with a random person however the very act of a adult male having sex with an under age girl after killing her mum and sister has rape written all over it to me. There is not a doubt in my mind that she was raped.
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