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Super Size Me Director: Morgan Spurlock Rated: M Palace Nova, now screening 
Concerned with the ever increasing problem of obesity in the US, where 60% of the population is overweight, and astonished by two fat girls suing McDonalds, blaming the corporation for their health problems, first-time director, Morgan Spurlock uses himself as a guinea pig to investigate the culpability of the fast food industry, using the prime pushers as his example. He vows to eat only at McDonalds, three times a day, for an entire month to see what effect it will have on his body. He's monitored by three doctors and a nutritionist, and they measure his progress on the scales and decline in vitality. Shocked by the impact on his liver, heart, cholesterol level and how much weight he stacks on, they urge him to quit or at least reduce his portions and take vitamins and aspirin to help his body cope. He can't do this because he's set himself strict rules including that he can only eat and drink what is sold there, he must sample everything on the menu at least once, and if they offer to upgrade the portion sizes for a small extra charge ("Super Size"), he can't refuse. More than a year later, Spurlock's body has recovered but he says he's become hypersensitive to the food and while the smell makes him salivate if he eats the fries "they taste like smoked plastic. If I take a bite of a Big Mac, I'll get this chemical aftertaste and this gummy Mcfilm in my mouth" he adds. In Adelaide to attend a sold-out question and answer session screening of his film, Spurlock recalls his thirty days and thirty nights, saying "depression set in for me about a week in. I was lethargic but I would eat the food and feel elated and then an hour later I'd crash and hit the wall again. I was incredibly moody." His vegan chef girlfriend, Alex, noticed the effect on their sex life and Spurlock admits "I couldn't salute the general." This self-financed documentary, shot on mini DV and illustrated with colourful animation and collage, presents facts and frightening statistics. For example, the most eaten vegetable in the US is the french fry and some McDonalds salads contain more calories than a Big Mac. McDonalds represents 43% of the fast food market in the US, operates 30,000 restaurants on 6 continents and before most children can speak, they can recognize McDonalds. In 'Super Size Me' little kids are shown images and while none of them can identify Jesus Christ, they all know Ronald McDonald. Spurlock believes saturation marketing is brainwashing children, saying "It's the passion of the Ronald. It's cradle to the grave. They bring you in early and for the rest of your life you are going to be beholden to the corporate environment." Morgan Spurlock won Best Director at Sundance 2004 and within six weeks of the screening McDonalds, who ignored his interview requests, announced it was withdrawing the 'Super Size' option. If you ever eat there, you owe it to yourself to see this film. If you never eat there, you'll know what he's on about and be greatly entertained by his heroism.  |
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