Emma Wants to Live (2016)
45m | English | Jessica Villerius
This film offers a unique look of the deadly disease of anorexia. Emma, 18, filmed her own struggle and death. When she started filming herself, she knew the film would end one of two ways: either as a film about recovery from a low point, or about the devastation of anorexia because she would die. It became the latter. While Emma is the clear main speaker in this film, her parents, friends, doctors and therapists reflect on her life and death. The film is both heartbreaking and inspiring because Emma's message echoes throughout: choose life while you can.
Emma wants to Live had a huge impact in its home country, the Netherlands. It broke records when it came to the number of viewers (1.1 million, 49% marketshare in ages 13-19) on a relatively small channel and it gently forced breakthroughs in the Dutch health care system. It was discussed in many talkshows and all national newspapers, credited for its integrity on such a sensitive subject.
This film is not currently available in Aruba, Belgium, Curaçao, Netherlands, Norway, Saint Maarten