At a critical point in "Sharing the Secret," the perceptive stepmother of young Beth Moss describes to Beth's mother Nina that the young woman is "pulling down the dirty curtains." That was her way of saying that Beth was making a major stride in confronting her bulimia.
The filmmakers were successful in developing the secret life led by Beth and how she was able to conceal her sickness from both of her parents. The sensitive mother was a psychiatrist, and she had missed all of the signals about her daughter's condition that had been developing for three years.
The film was overtly graphic in the details of Beth's affliction. We see her entering a school lavatory, and her classmates hear the sounds of her vomiting in the stall. Late at night at home, Beth is binging on candy bars. The most lurid scene was when her mother would not leave the bathroom, and Beth's biological imperative forced her to vomit in front of her mother. The endorphins then kicked in, and Beth felt a temporary satisfaction and euphoria, prior to the urge to sate herself and begin the vicious cycle of purging anew.
The one unconvincing moment in the film was when Beth finally confessed to her mother, who instantly flew into a rage. This was the moment that capsulizes the film's title, and the anger was uncharacteristic of the mild-mannered psychiatrist. And, of course, it was the worst possible response for Beth who needed her mom's support at that critical time.
The performances were first rate with even the secondary characters being memorable. The sensitive school principal was one of the first to recognize Beth's problem, and her one major scene was unforgettable. Another memorable character was the young psychiatrist who took on Beth as a patient. The psychiatrist had a background of anorexia and was able to impact Beth by sharing her own story.
It was unfortunate that the film ended very abruptly. There could have been a much stronger denouement. It was clear that Beth was getting good care at the treatment center. But her future outside the confines of the clinic remained ominously uncertain.
The filmmakers were successful in developing the secret life led by Beth and how she was able to conceal her sickness from both of her parents. The sensitive mother was a psychiatrist, and she had missed all of the signals about her daughter's condition that had been developing for three years.
The film was overtly graphic in the details of Beth's affliction. We see her entering a school lavatory, and her classmates hear the sounds of her vomiting in the stall. Late at night at home, Beth is binging on candy bars. The most lurid scene was when her mother would not leave the bathroom, and Beth's biological imperative forced her to vomit in front of her mother. The endorphins then kicked in, and Beth felt a temporary satisfaction and euphoria, prior to the urge to sate herself and begin the vicious cycle of purging anew.
The one unconvincing moment in the film was when Beth finally confessed to her mother, who instantly flew into a rage. This was the moment that capsulizes the film's title, and the anger was uncharacteristic of the mild-mannered psychiatrist. And, of course, it was the worst possible response for Beth who needed her mom's support at that critical time.
The performances were first rate with even the secondary characters being memorable. The sensitive school principal was one of the first to recognize Beth's problem, and her one major scene was unforgettable. Another memorable character was the young psychiatrist who took on Beth as a patient. The psychiatrist had a background of anorexia and was able to impact Beth by sharing her own story.
It was unfortunate that the film ended very abruptly. There could have been a much stronger denouement. It was clear that Beth was getting good care at the treatment center. But her future outside the confines of the clinic remained ominously uncertain.