Go see this!
The movie A Matter of Size, which is about four fat Israelis who set out to become sumo wrestlers, has been playing in Boston for some time now and I hear it's about to start a run in Washington D.C. on July 2nd. Lesley at Fatshionista gave it a glowing review and I must admit, the trailer has piqued my interest. So if you live near either of those two cities, go check it out and tell us what you think!
HUGE Misrepresentation | Exploiting Fat Kids -or- Style Network is Despicable.
Posted by CarrieP on June 30, 2010
I have GOT to see this movie. The trailer looks great and the review Leslie gave makes me want to see it NOW! But I don't suppose it will make its way to Moscow ID. Have to see if the local performing arts center takes film requests.
ETA: Yes they do. Request placed
Oh wow, I totally want to see that!!! I might be going to the DC area in August. I love the exchange, "That's my son." "Which one?" "The fat one." "Which fat one?"
Oh boy! Fat Jokes: The Movie! Humor disguised as positivity.
Yeah, stupid fat jokes can be annoying, and it looks like this movie is just a constant stream of them. Breaking chairs? There's a new one. Also, I suspect that they'll be shown eating huge amounts of food as part of the sumo training. On the other hand, I laughed at parts of the trailer. It doesn't seem mean spirited.
...I didn't watch Shallow Hal is the reason I won't watch this movie - fat jokes with one person defending the fattie or the fat person needing defending anyway. Size isn't a choice, at least not from what I've seen of the world, unless by "choice" you mean starvation diets, unhealthy eating, dangerous surgeries and the like. I was born fat, and it wouldn't matter how much weight I might lose, unless I do something really drastic like exercise for 8 hours a day and eat only lettuce, I would never be thin enough. I wasn't built that way. This movie looks like another excuse for people who are uncomfortable with fat people and feel guilty about it, to boost their own ego's. "Oh, look at us, helping the poor fatties to make people see how badly we treat them". I can't be bothered with that kind of nonsense.
Plus, if this movie is all in subtitles, I can't watch that. It gives me a headache.
Maybe someday, I'll find a way to write a script about being fat that is truly positive. But I have to work on me first for that.
Make a wish, you never know who's listening!
Good to see differing viewpoints, since you never know how something will come off to different people. I didn't see this movie being like Shallow Hal at all, from the trailers of the two films. For one thing, Shallow Hal put a thin person in a fat suit so they could ridicule her and show how disgusting she was. To me this seems to be about fat people trying to be free to be fat, and finding a way to do it that seems positive--becoming sumo wrestlers. The breaking chair to me seemed to be more of an indication that there was something wrong with the chair rather than the people...a sign that it was time to get out of whatever support group that was and live life as a fat person. As far as showing people eating, yeah, that could be problematic, but showing a fat person eating vs. showing a fat person bingeing on food are two different things, although in the minds of many, any time a fat person eat it becomes "shoveling in food" no matter how they do it. I've heard people say that they don't like to see fat people eat, and maybe sometimes we try not to eat in front of other people, worrying how we will be perceived. The whole eating thing in movies can be really touchy anyway, so just showing a fat person actually eating a fattening food can be positive. So when he says he's through with dieting and then eats some food, to me that is a good thing, not a joke at his expense. It might show them eating a lot as a sumo wrestler, but it looks like it will show them exercising a lot too.
I think the only way a movie can be completely fat positive is to just be about people who are fat who are living their lives in a world where being fat doesn't matter. As soon as you try and deal with the attitudes about living as a fat person, it's a difficult thing, especially since most fat people, even those who support fat acceptance, can have a hard time with the fact that they are what they are.
This is so the movie for me! My daughter is going to university in Japan in August for her last two semesters and I've already requested a sumo doll from her! She's blond, 6 feet tall and plus size do you think she'll stand out there??
"I think the only way a movie can be completely fat positive is to just be about people who are fat who are living their lives in a world where being fat doesn't matter."
Viola, what planet is that?
Well now! My first post!
*I* think this film looks like fun! Ok, so there are a few of the obvious fat jokes *rolls eyes*, BUT what *I* am seeing and liking is the training parts! YES! Fat people CAN excersize and be healthy and competitive just like our slimmer counterparts! The gentle humour is one I can appreciate, and if the film isn't perfect, it at least is looking on the bright side!
The large men have girlfriends! *gasp* one is even plump herself! The large men are fed up with dieting! YAY! They are using what comes naturally to do an amazing thing, MORE yay!
Seriously folks, no movie out there, no matter how good, is going to be a 100% perfect representation of fat acceptance to all people. I don't know about you folks, but any and all positive bits in movies I'm going to praise and see as positve momentum. I'll note the trite and true fat jokes etc, but I choose to look at the positive. ^_^
And hey, I kind of enjoyed Shallow Hal. I came away feeling like there was HOPE in the odd accepting moment. "Hey, your BEAUTIFUL!" Hal said upon seeing Paltrow (in the fat suit) at the end! I choose to see that as a winning moment, even if other parts were less than stellar. SOME progress is better than none at all, isn't it? Aren't we trying to be more positive? SO we can use the positive parts and praise those but note and educate using the bits that aren't so great.
Isn't that what this is all about after all? ^_^ Being positive?
I'm with Viola. My ideal films and T.V. shows would have characters of all sizes, and size wouldn't be an issue. Fatness wouldn't be a joke. It wouldn't be shorthand for either positive or negative characteristics. It would just be part of a character's appearance, like hair color.
Some wincey moments and some good ones in that trailer. I'd be willing to give it a go for sure, even if only to see more of those gorgeous fat guys with their gear off.
Gee wouldn't we all love to be able to overturn the car of the next person who calls out something rude? 
I don't see this as another 'Shallow Hal'. I'll bet it does champion the idea that you can become more fit and that this has nothing whatever to do with your weight.
Plus: the bald guy with the blue eyes is hot.
Anyhoodle, since I live in the middle of nowhere, it now occupies the 'Someday, some way' list on my Netflix queue.