cineSOURCE magazine

Overlooked & Underrated Docs & Features (click on broll or dschwartz for all his posts)

Breasts: A Documentary
Produced and cablecast on Cinemax in 1996, "Breasts" features 22 women speaking of their breasts. The 22—including two pair of mother-daughters—share their thoughts, feelings, experiences, and, of course, breasts. The information and tone range from the humorous and light-hearted to the inevitable tragedy of breast cancer. The film includes archival television footage of beauty pageants and television commercials.

Although the film does not attempt to examine Western culture's breast obsession, it reveals some of the ways that obsession affects the minds, lives, and behavior of women. In addition to the damage, the ludicrousness of our obsession becomes abundantly clear.

I heartily recommend this film for teenagers to help give them insights into this obsession, and maybe a key or two to liberation.

This First Run Features DVD includes additional footage, an interview with the filmmakers, and a photo gallery.

D. Schwartz Setpember 24, 2011