The Self Portrait / AFF 2020

Margreth Olin | Norway | 2020 | 80’
Public (Non-competitive)
1006_2020 Public (Non-competitive)
Synopsis:
Lene (33) suffers from severe anorexia. Since the age of ten she has been hiding from the Norwegian Health Care System. Then she taught herself the art of photography. The film is a portrait of an artist and a portrait of a deadly disease. During the last years, Lene Marie Fossen became recognized as a world-class photographer. She has been suffering from severe anorexia since the age of ten. She had a unique photo-project, expose the shame, and confront the disease. Her photo art is naked and honest. In October 2019, Lene Marie died of anorexia. She watched the finished film before she passed away. Together with her parents, she decided that the film should be launched on schedule, as it was important for Lene Marie that her story could mean something to others. Self Portrait is a film about the power of art. It raises important questions about what treatment one who suffers from severe anorexia needs. The audience gets to meet an unusual girl in a raw and poetic film.
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[@JadedAnon]

Lena. You still live through your work. Rest in paradise. ❤🙏🏻

[@isabellitaoconnell5171]

Oh amazing artist 😇

[@panotsnokls]

dont glamorize suicide

[@huomala7891]

@@panotsnokls eh op did not glamorize suicide? Tf

[@panotsnokls]

so the story here is to know what happened to this child at 10 right ?

[@lusomarga]

From what i gathered from other sources, is that, what happens typically to anorexic girls, is that she had a very possessive and overprotective mother who wanted her to forever stay her perfect little girl. Anorexia is often a refusal for girls to enter womanhood, which would mean starting own adult life, separating from parents. It is visible that she has always been chaperoned by her mother, in all her trips, and even in her exhibition she asks for her mother's validation. Anorexia is really very often about toxic mother-daughter bond.

[@lorikeene5912]

Sounds like a perfect explanation for Eugenia Cooney

[@julianawinik8410]

@@lusomargaas someone who has anorexia, your take is very much a stereotype. I don’t know Lena’s story or relationship to her mother so I cannot speak to her situation directly but please stop perpetuating this false narrative!!!!!!

[@stephp7778]

Was thinking the same

[@Cattipigen]

Its not always about tocix mother-daugther bond what the fck is wrong with you@@lusomarga

[@hannahclarke7450]

The reason it kills so many is because of films like this. Take away the sob music and the voyuerism around the disease and we will be on the right path to curbing the death toll.

[@evitagreve7307]

Her art work was a cry for help. Just sad

[@bertauckland2392]

Glamorizing anorexia

[@ruinsane100]

Watch her TED interview. She said it makes her angry to hear this because it's not her intention, nor is it true.