Doctalk: Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead

Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead directed by Kurt Engfehr and Joe Cross follows Cross, an Australian entrepreneur who is 310 pounds and suffering from an autoimmune disease that affects his attempts to lose weight. When he visits the doctor and discovers that he is 100 pounds overweight, he decides to take control of his health. He vows to only drink fresh fruits and vegetables for 60 days in order to lose the extra weight and get off his medications. 

This documentary provides viewers with realistic images of everyday people and the cinematography gives the film agenerally positive vibe. Most of the scenes are shot in bright settings and the voice overadds a comfortable yet formal tone to the film.  Although viewers areconsistently exposed to the main themes of the documentary, which include health, self-control, and hope, there are not enough details to produce a thorough effect. The point of the film seems to be to document one man’s health journey and inform viewers of a new form of dieting to consider but the lack of details is where the doc falls short. On a positive note, this documentary does have a multifaceted appeal that encourages viewers to learn moreabout ways to adapt a healthy lifestyle.

While this documentary was inspiring, Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead did not go beyond the surface issues, which took away from the educational aspect. As a viewer I would have enjoyed a deeper focus on juicing options and how it affects the body. Often health oriented documentaries can leave the audience with the same questions they had before watching the film, so more information on the important topics it highlighted would have been appreciated. Overall, I would suggest watching Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead because this documentary opens up a conversation about the importance of taking control of one’s health and ways to inspire others in the process. 

Jayde Bryant 

Image Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/5/5f/Fat%2C_Sick_and_Nearly_Dead_%28film%29.jpg