TO THE BONE

 

TO THE BONE COMMENTARY

            The movie I chose to watch was the Netflix Original, 'To the Bone’. This movie follows a young girl named Ellen suffering through anorexia and her journey through recovery.

The establishing shot focuses on two girls walking through what I assume to be a hospital hallway or a rehab center hallway. The two girls in this shot were sickeningly skinny, thus the viewers can see or predict how the movie will discuss eating disorders. Moreover, the shot also sets the overall mood and tone. The average person seeing two extremely thin girls walking through a hospital/rehab corridor is not assuming that this is a happy movie, they will most likely see how this movie will have a darker and depressing tone/mood. 

Establishing shot

As the movie goes along and we get introduced to our main character Ellen, one of the first shots we receive of her is an extreme close up of her skinny ribs. We see  how her bones stick out. Also, a close up of her hairy arms are shown. Hairy arms are an indication of the body not producing enough heat because of no fat, so an overproduction of body hair occurs. These closeups of her ill body evokes a reaction from the viewers. We are presented with an abnormal body at a close range. This can also aid the watcher in trying to comprehend the mindset of the main character and why she puts herself through this. 

Close up of Ellen's spine

Ellen, the main character, has a frequent habit of measuring her upper arm by wrapping her hand around it. This is not only shown multiple times but it is shown mainly as close ups. This again shows her very thin arms and how easily her hand can wrap around it summoning a sad feeling from the viewer. 

Close up of Ellen measuring arm

Throughout the movie we see Ellen in group therapy with her family. Many of these group therapy shots are two person shots and these shots show the interactions between her family, her therapist, and herself. The atmosphere is awkward and unsettling. 

group therapy session

Because this movie is about eating disorders, we get quite a lot of shots of food or food related topics. Whenever Ellen eats, they show a Point of View shot of her view of the food she attempts to eat. Most of the time the food is untouched and barely moved around. We get Ellen’s perspective and how she sees food as something bad or disgusting. Us viewers are left frustrated as we just want to yell at the screen for her to eat the food and nourish her body. 

POV shot of Ellen eating

As Ellen goes into rehab, she has to get weighed. We see close ups of the scale, her face, and her body. Her bones popping out and her narrow paper white face flashes on the screen which can leave some viewers disturbed wanting to turn away from the screen or others in shock. The upsettingly low weight being displayed on the screen is also something many people would sigh at or feel pity for Ellen. 

Ellen getting weighed 

Ellen getting weighed 

      
           

                Multiple movements through this film are handheld. We see shaky shots which do give the feeling of deep intimacy. Personally, at times I felt like I was in the same room as Ellen. However, a lot of other shots used a Steadicam. A lot of the shots using a Steadicam felt awkward and stiff in comparison to the handheld shots. 

Wide shots were used various times, yet I specifically noticed them significantly during times where Ellen and the people in the rehab house were together. A lot of these wide shots were specifically taken when the people in the rehab house were watching television, hanging out, and eating. Something I also took notice of was the wide shots used when showing a new home. Ellen jumps back and forth between her house with her step-mother and the rehab house. The switch in location always included a wide shot, mainly of the living room.

Wide shots in living room

            One of the most impactful scenes was where Ellen's mother begins to bottle feed her because she can't physically pick up food to feed herself. The shot begins as a mid shot, so the audience can see Ellen's mother holding her as if she were a baby. Slowly, the shot zooms up and the camera only focuses on Ellen drinking from the baby bottle. As the scene continues, the shot zooms out. When it zooms out we see a full shot of Ellen getting bottle fed from her mother. 

Ellen getting bottle fed

Towards the end of the movie, we see Ellen accept recovery and begin to get better. Before she comes to this full realization of getting official help she goes on a hike. In this hike you get an extreme wide shot. Ellen is barely visible in this scene, which demonstrates her unimportance in comparison to her surrounding and settings.

Extreme wide shot

In Ellen's final road of recovery, we see her go through a dream like state where she is seeing herself through a third person point of view. An overhead shot of her nude, thin body is shown. This can also be considered a point of view shot as this is what Ellen is viewing while she is dreaming. Not only do we view Ellen's perspective but we as the audience get a disturbed feeling as we stare at a lifeless looking body.

Overhead/POV shot

Finally, the last shot in the movie is a wide shot that tilts up at the very end. The wide shot once again shows the rehab therapy home, but this time us viewers know Ellen is fully on board with getting better. She has a different mindset and a smile on her face. This scene shows a familiar location that the audience is aware of. This possibly brings a sense of relief or closeness between the viewer and the scene/shot. The tilt upwards towards the house finished the movie in a dramatic fashion.

Final Wide shot