To the Bone (2017)- Top 5 Facts!
advertisement
VOICE OVER: Lisa Yang
Script written by Nick Spake
This controversial new movie should be on your watch list. To the Bone stars Lily Collins, an anorexic young woman battling her disorder. What you may not know know about this film is that it's Marti Noxon's first feature directorial debut! While she's worked on some big television series, this is her first big project. Not only was this her big project, but she drew from personal experiences as well!
This controversial new movie should be on your watch list. To the Bone stars Lily Collins, an anorexic young woman battling her disorder. What you may not know know about this film is that it's Marti Noxon's first feature directorial debut! While she's worked on some big television series, this is her first big project. Not only was this her big project, but she drew from personal experiences as well!
#5: It’s Semi-Autobiographical of the Film’s Writer/Director
“To the Bone” stars Lily Collins as Ellen, a young woman dealing with anorexia. The film proved to be an extremely emotional production for writer/director Marti Noxon, given her personal connection to the subject matter. Around the age of 14, Noxon began suffering from anorexia and bulimia, a battle that persisted for almost a decade. By the time she was a high school senior, Noxon weighed 69 pounds, putting her life in serious jeopardy. Fortunately, she eventually conquered her eating disorder after a doctor urged her to try a then-radical treatment. Although this passion project is technically work of fiction, many of Noxon’s own experiences can be found in Ellen’s journey to recovery.
#4: Netflix Picked It Up at the Sundance Film Festival
On January 22, 2017, “To the Bone” had its premiere at the Sundance Film Festival as part of their U.S. Dramatic Competition. Generating buzz amongst audiences and press members, the film was largely praised for its humor, drama, and unique perspective of a complicated topic, not to mention Lily Collins’ standout lead performance. Considering the positive word of mouth, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that Netflix quickly acquired the movie’s distribution rights for roughly $8 million. The streaming juggernaut went on a shopping spree at Sundance this year, buying a total of 10 movies, more than any theatrical distributor.
#3: It’s Marti Noxon’s Feature Directorial Debut
This film may be Marti Noxon’s feature directorial debut, but she’s been a major player in showbiz for almost two decades. She got her big break on “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” writing a couple dozen episodes and even getting behind the camera on occasion. By Season 4, she was acting as the show’s supervising producer, most notably by casting Amber Benson as Tara. Since then, Noxon has acted as a writer and producer for “Grey's Anatomy,” “Mad Men,” and “Glee.” She’s currently working on shows like “Girlfriends' Guide to Divorce” and “Unreal,” the latter of which earned her an Emmy nomination. Now with “To the Bone,” her already lengthy résumé is even more impressive.
#2: Lily Collins Drew From Her Own Life to Play Ellen
Marti Noxon isn’t the only person involved with this production that’s struggled with body image issues. Actress Lily Collins also developed an eating disorder as a teenager, which she opened up about in her debut novel, “Unfiltered: No Shame, No Regrets, Just Me.” Feeling an immediate attachment to Noxon’s script, Collins was motivated to draw inspiration from her own experiences while portraying Ellen. Since this role required Collins to lose a substantial amount of weight, she had to revisit one of the most difficult chapters of her life. Through her support system, though, Collins was able to confront her fear and create a character she hopes will speak to other young people living with anorexia.
#1: It’s Getting A Lot of Flak
Seeing how anorexia is such a touchy subject, it’s not at all shocking that “To the Bone” has attracted a fair deal of controversy. Many claim that the movie is just another example of “thinspo,” an abbreviation for “thinspiration.” Arguments have suggested that its romanticized depiction of eating disorders and weight loss will act as a trigger for people with mental health problems. A similar case was made for “13 Reasons Why,” a Netflix Original Series that confronted teen suicide. At the same time, however, others have championed the filmmakers for addressing this issue with wit, sophistication, and honesty.

Do you agree with our list? Which “To the Bone” fact did you find the most interesting? For more entertaining Top 10s and eye-opening Top 5s, be sure to subscribe to MsMojo.
