America the Beautiful: How America's Obsession with Beauty Contributes to Eating Disorders

Robert Ebert declared it a "POWERFUL MESSAGE."

EDC’s President, Kitty Westin, calls it “A powerful and moving film that could very well change the way people view beauty. It illustrates how toxic our culture, including our obsession with beauty, can be for girls and boys, women and men. America the Beautiful is the “Super Size Me” of the beauty industry. Everyone needs to see this film.”

This independent film, an indictment of our country’s beauty industry, has received high praise from reviewers and RAVE reviews from the eating disorder community.

Darryl Roberts, the writer, producer, and director of “America The Beautiful,” says "Considering that we're challenging an industry that has been assaulting our self-esteem for a long time, this isn't just a movie opening, it's a movement. It's how each and every one of us can say ENOUGH!”

To honor and spotlight the screening, and its myth-deflating message, EDC has scheduled a briefing at the Capitol, a reception, and after the screening a Q&A with the filmmaker.

2:30-4:00
Briefing
United States Capitol Room H-137
Hosted by, Congressman Jim Ramstad (R-MN)
Speakers: Julie Holland, Dianne Neumark-Sztainer, Darryl Roberts, and Jenni Schaefer

5:00pm-6:30pm
Reception with special guest filmmaker Darryl Roberts
720 7th Street NW, Suite 300

7:00pm – 9:30pm
Screening: America The Beautiful
This will be the DC premiere of the film, and the screening will be followed by a Q & A with the filmmaker Darryl Roberts.

America the Beautiful is a socially probing documentary which explores the question, "Does America have an unhealthy obsession with beauty?" Filmmaker Darryl Roberts journeys into the psyche of celebrities like Paris Hilton and Jessica Simpson, athletes like Reggie Theus, industry professionals such as Jill Ishkanian from "US Weekly," Ted Casablanca from the "E! Channel" and the American citizenry to determine the roots of this superficial obsession. By juxtaposing his personal obsessions with beauty with those of people like Martin Short, Michael Beach, Mena Suvari, Anthony Kiedis, Tischa Campbell and Aisha Tyler, Roberts illustrates that, to varying degress, we all fall victim to this superficial social phenomenon.

E Street Theater
555 E Street NW (10th and 11th)