'' The Famine Within '' is a Canadian documentary film , directed by Katherine Gilday and released in 1990 . The film explores the issue of women 's body image , and the prevalence of eating disorders . The film was narrated by Rebecca Jenkins . '' The Famine Within '' is an exploration of the contemporary obsession with body size and shape among North American women . Through the use of conventional documentary interviews and narration in conjunction with striking evocative imagery , the film presents women sharing their own experiences suffering with an eating disorder . The direct testimony of many women who have suffered from the body obsession – dancers , mothers , career women , athletes , bulimics , fat women , anorexics , young girls - with the views of leading experts , this work explores the kind of hunger that can not be satisfied by food . The film is less about illness associated with food , but more raises questions about why so many women are worried about gaining weight or “ being fat ” The film premiered at the 1990 Festival of Festivals . It was subsequently broadcast by TVOntario
1990 Festival of Festivals
1990 Toronto International Film Festival
The Famine Within