Documentary

Last update: June 14, 2008 - 4:22 PM

Documentary peels back beauty obsession

The poster for the documentary film "America the Beautiful" depicts the Statue of Liberty holding up a lipstick instead of a torch, surrounded by notes like "enlarge eyes," "airbrush wrinkles" "install implants" and "tummy tuck."

In his hometown of Chicago, filmmaker Darryl Roberts got standing ovations when he walked onstage after screenings of his doc on our nation's obsession with beauty. Now it's being tested in other markets, including Minneapolis on Thursday.

Many filmmakers before Roberts have dissected plastic surgery and the cosmetics and fashion industries, so what is it about this particular film that's bringing audiences to their feet? "For an hour and 45 minutes, you think, 'Why do we do this to ourselves? Enough is enough,'" said Dr. Jillian Croll, director of the Minnesota-based Emily Program Foundation, who has seen it twice.

The recently formed foundation, which works to educate the public on the causes and prevention of eating disorders and other weight-related issues, will sponsor two screenings (7 & 9:30 p.m. Thu.) at the Lagoon in Uptown Minneapolis. Each is followed by a forum with Roberts and foundation board members. Tickets ($15) are available at the box office or 651-379-6130.

KRISTIN TILLOTSON

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