Embrace is a 2016 Australian documentary film directed by Taryn Brumfitt. It concerns women's body image and is a response to surveys showing that 90% of women are "highly dissatisfied" with their bodies.[1][2][3] It includes interviews with Mia Freedman, editor of the Australian Cosmopolitan and television talk-show hosts Amanda de Cadenet and Ricki Lake.[2]

Embrace
Directed byTaryn Brumfitt
Written byTaryn Brumfitt
Produced by
  • Taryn Brumfitt
  • Anna Vincent
StarringTaryn Brumfitt
Narrated byTaryn Brumfitt
CinematographyHugh Fenton
Edited byLindi Harrison
Bryan Mason
Music byBenjamin Speed
Production
company
Distributed byTransmission Films
Release dates
Running time
90 minutes
CountryAustralia
LanguageEnglish

Participants

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Release

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The film was screened at the 2016 Sydney Film Festival[4] and New Zealand International Film Festival.[2]

Rating

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The film was originally classified MA 15+ by the Australian Classification Board, meaning that people under 15 could only legally view or purchase it when accompanied by an adult guardian. Brumfitt expressed outrage at this decision, which she pointed out put the film into the same category as Fifty Shades of Grey.[5]

Following a review by the Australian Classification Review Board, it was subsequently re-classified M, which means it is no longer subject to any legal age restrictions.[6]

Brumfitt fully welcomed this decision, stating, "I am thrilled that the right decision has been made. With rates of labiaplasty on the rise, particularly in teens, I knew how important it was to include the educational and informative vulva section in the film. Since the film's release I have been told every day that it must be seen in schools and now it can be. The Classification Board's decision means that Embrace can be more accessible to the people who need its message most."[7]

Facebook is reported to have barred the film's poster on the basis that it shows "excessive skin".[5]

References

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  1. ^ Paatsch, Leigh (3 August 2016). "Taryn Brumfitt's Embrace is a highly accessible and refreshingly honest Australian-made documentary". Herald Sun. Retrieved 6 August 2016.
  2. ^ a b c "Embrace". 2016. New Zealand International Film Festival. Retrieved 6 August 2016.
  3. ^ Byrnes, Paul (3 August 2016). "Embrace review: Taryn Brumfitt's body image documentary a troubling eye-opener". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 6 August 2016.
  4. ^ Program. Sydney Film Festival. 2016. p. 15. Archived from the original on 6 June 2017. Retrieved 6 August 2016.
  5. ^ a b Roach, Vicky (12 July 2016). "Positive body activist Taryn Brumfitt slams censors' decision on female genitalia". News.com.au. Retrieved 6 August 2016.
  6. ^ "'Embrace' Rating Decision Overturned".
  7. ^ "Embrace Gets a Lower Classification Rating". 17 October 2016.
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