My Skinny Sister (2015)

Fresh and Exciting

Fun premise, good actors, bad writing. This film seemed to have potential at the beginning but it quickly devolves into a trite action film. Ultimately it's very boring.

The acting in this movie is really good.

It's the kind of movie you'll want to see a second time with someone who hasn't seen it yet, to remember what it was like to watch it for the first time.

My Skinny Sister bravely tackles a very serious mental disease that is more and more common in our society nowadays. The film does not explain the disease itself, where, when and how it starts but merely focuses on what life is like when a close family member gets severly affected by it and that is the painfully realistic part. Nothing is held back and strong performances from the entire cast might be quite painful or sad to watch for everyone who are all too familiar with eating disorders. We know that the pressures from the media and society are particularly harsh on girls and young women since we live in a youth and beauty obsessed culture. What parents and siblings go through is extremely difficult due to the fact that it is a very challenging disease, it is unfortunately still a taboo, it may take years to recover from it and even then it may only be dormant and come back again someday.The film is very well made and if you get a chance to see it, do not miss it. Eating disorder is a topic that people should know more about in order to be able to help someone who is dealing with it in a better and more prepared way.

The main character of the film is not the anorexic - but her little sister Stella. This makes it possible for the viewer to experience the full force and intensity with which such a disease encounters the whole family. At the same time, absolute helplessness of the parents against this mental illness becomes obvious. Despair and exaggerated concentration on food worsen everything. But little Stella is just fantastic. Instinctively, she shows inner strength, childlike self-confidence, and unreserved love for her suffering sister. Not stiffening to the symptom can help - but only hopeful love ... and unbeatable humor. "He can not be pedophilic, he was not so cool about my kiss" she states about an incident when she - a young child - kissed a man in his thirties. Unbeatable ! Must see !

I've very rarely written IMDb reviews but as the only other one here so far is completely unrepresentative of how I've seen audiences respond to the film, it's important to offer another perspective. The synopsis in the paragraph below reveals some details concerning what happens in the first half of the film.Swedish teenager Katja (Amy Deasismont) is a prize-winning ice skater, with proud and supportive parents. Twelve-year old slightly chubby sister Stella (Rebecka Josephson) doesn't attract quite the same attention, but aspires to emulate Katja. Their close relationship becomes strained when Stella discovers signs of her sister's eating disorder and wants to tell her parents, but Katja orders her not to, threatening to expose poems that would reveal her crush on Katja's skating coach. When Katja's problems become increasingly alarming and conspicuous, her family strive to help her, but soon find themselves out of their depth.My Skinny Sister is an absorbing drama, but it's also notable for depicting body image issues – and a young woman's slide into anorexia – with rare insight. Writer-director Sanna Lenken's impressive first feature draws upon personal experience, adding authenticity, compassion and humour to a moving story that will resonate with many families. Katja's struggle is seen through Stella's eyes, and Josephson's outstanding performance helps to convey the impact this very serious illness has on a sufferer's anxious family.It's bewildering that the other review is so poor. When I saw the film at the London Film Festival and later at a South London cinema, it was obvious during a Q&A and a discussion that followed these screenings that both audiences found it fascinating and thought-provoking. The sisters are so convincing that you'll think they are real people, and the actions of other characters are perfectly credible too. You don't have to take my word for it as My Skinny Sister received four and five star reviews in UK national newspapers. Screen International said: "As a depiction of the tug and pull of sibling emotions, My Skinny Sister hits the target with an almost-unnerving accuracy." It has also won awards at four festivals, including the Audience Award at the Gothenburg Film Festival and a Crystal Bear at the Berlin International Film Festival. Berlin judges stated: "The film's unique perspective, stunning performances and challenging theme really touched our hearts... Despite tackling a challenging issue head-on, the filmmakers succeed in delivering real humour and charm as well as uneasy tension and visceral emotion." I couldn't agree more, so please see it and make up your own mind!

So the movie my little sister is about Stella a young girl that finds out her older sister has anorexia. The performance that sticks out the most is Rebecka Josephson (Movie Legend Erland Josephson's Granddaughter)SHe gives an amazing performance while Amy Deasismont (Swedish Pop-singer under the stage name Amy Diamond) Gives a forgettable but OK performance. Here is a list of problems*SPOILERS BELOW *1. The family is either perfect or horrible not normal or believable at all2. The Cheesy ending. i hoped that it would be a Black Swanish ending where she Does a perfect jump but pays for it with her life3. Characters 101 they are all so stereotypical4. I was laughing every serious or sad scene