On one level I feel a bit uneasy commenting on 'My Big White Thighs & Me'. I'm a middle aged single man whose idea of exercise is walking to the local shop to pick up a four pack. I'm not a woman so don't really have my figure judged constantly. I haven't been through pregnancy. In many ways though the themes that Hannah Maia's film touches on are universal. Do we not all reach an age where we begin to question where our lives are going? Are our best days behind us? And what happened to that child who knew no bounds?
I caught this documentary short as part of Pendle Social Cinema's 'Wide-Open Spaces' online film festival and it was definitely the stand out. It seems like a odd comparison but I was reminded of the Pixar film 'Up' in many ways. We join Hannah at the start of the film looking at her thighs. Not so much hating her body more realising she is in a rut. The donuts she's eating, although giving sugar rush, are no long term fix. There must be something she can do? Like Carl in 'Up' she may be unsure at first but her desire will lead to an adventure. And like him her outlook on life will change by the end.
When it comes to that change I felt it was important that film doesn't become a tract on weight loss or conformity. In my view it's more a quest for what we feel we have when we are younger. A sense of freedom and being foolhardy. Our memories of paddling in rock pools. Swimming in the sea - didn't we love that back then? Isn't there something about nature that is magical and rejuvenating? Why can I not do that again? And so Hannah makes tentative steps into trying open water swimming. Still questioning. Apprehensive yet giddy at the same time.
What I loved about the film was both its personal and visceral nature. We feel everything with her as she walks ungainly over pebbles. Slipping and sliding - is my body ready for this? And then once in the whelps, heavy breathing and almost involuntary laughter as the coldness consumes. Again I loved Hannah's honesty. At first it was no more than fifteen seconds doggy paddle. Not massive strokes. Not consummate swimmer. But once out the temptation came back. Shall I go in again? I'd love to go back in. What's stopping me? You can feel the chill of her body, you can feel the exhilaration.
Another thing I loved is the progression of the swims themselves. What starts as quite a solitary journey. Just Hannah going for swims on her own and recording becomes a shared pursuit. With friends and family exploring the UK countryside with her. It's not forced but it's almost as though her passion for self discovery rubs off on the people around her. I'm not going to say any more about how Hannah's story progresses safe to say it becomes a touchingly tender tale about loss, healing and new beginnings. It's about the places we go to find happiness and who we take with us.
Ultimately ''My Big White Thighs & Me' is about the beauty of the landscape that surrounds and the uniqueness of our bodies. The power of our bodies. It's about loving your body for what it is; something that in its skin, bone and muscle has helped us stay alive. A thing that has soaked up the sun, breathed in air, run away from danger, fought off germs. It will show the marks caused by what we have been through. It's a life affirming film about conquering fears and second chances. Told by someone so warm and engaging. I hope today finds Hannah well. I don't know for sure but I'd like to imagine she's in a fairy pool somewhere dreaming about what comes next.
I caught this documentary short as part of Pendle Social Cinema's 'Wide-Open Spaces' online film festival and it was definitely the stand out. It seems like a odd comparison but I was reminded of the Pixar film 'Up' in many ways. We join Hannah at the start of the film looking at her thighs. Not so much hating her body more realising she is in a rut. The donuts she's eating, although giving sugar rush, are no long term fix. There must be something she can do? Like Carl in 'Up' she may be unsure at first but her desire will lead to an adventure. And like him her outlook on life will change by the end.
When it comes to that change I felt it was important that film doesn't become a tract on weight loss or conformity. In my view it's more a quest for what we feel we have when we are younger. A sense of freedom and being foolhardy. Our memories of paddling in rock pools. Swimming in the sea - didn't we love that back then? Isn't there something about nature that is magical and rejuvenating? Why can I not do that again? And so Hannah makes tentative steps into trying open water swimming. Still questioning. Apprehensive yet giddy at the same time.
What I loved about the film was both its personal and visceral nature. We feel everything with her as she walks ungainly over pebbles. Slipping and sliding - is my body ready for this? And then once in the whelps, heavy breathing and almost involuntary laughter as the coldness consumes. Again I loved Hannah's honesty. At first it was no more than fifteen seconds doggy paddle. Not massive strokes. Not consummate swimmer. But once out the temptation came back. Shall I go in again? I'd love to go back in. What's stopping me? You can feel the chill of her body, you can feel the exhilaration.
Another thing I loved is the progression of the swims themselves. What starts as quite a solitary journey. Just Hannah going for swims on her own and recording becomes a shared pursuit. With friends and family exploring the UK countryside with her. It's not forced but it's almost as though her passion for self discovery rubs off on the people around her. I'm not going to say any more about how Hannah's story progresses safe to say it becomes a touchingly tender tale about loss, healing and new beginnings. It's about the places we go to find happiness and who we take with us.
Ultimately ''My Big White Thighs & Me' is about the beauty of the landscape that surrounds and the uniqueness of our bodies. The power of our bodies. It's about loving your body for what it is; something that in its skin, bone and muscle has helped us stay alive. A thing that has soaked up the sun, breathed in air, run away from danger, fought off germs. It will show the marks caused by what we have been through. It's a life affirming film about conquering fears and second chances. Told by someone so warm and engaging. I hope today finds Hannah well. I don't know for sure but I'd like to imagine she's in a fairy pool somewhere dreaming about what comes next.
