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FAT CHANCE: The Big Prejudice

72 minutes
Grades 10-Adult
1994
Closed Captioned

Produced by the National Film Board of Canada/
A film by Jeff McKay

Rick Zakowich is fat. Many would call him obese. Now at 40 he
feels he's come to that stage in his life where it's do or
die. Nothing has ever worked before; and after 30 years of
trying and failing, he wants to give it one more chance. He
feels confident; he's got the support of his family and
friends, but more importantly he believes in himself.

FAT CHANCE is the story of Rick's journey toward a new sense
of self. Caught in a world where looks are everything, Rick
aspires to thinness, but ultimately begins to question the
real values of this world promulgated by media, fashion and
diet-mania. Spurred on by friends at the National Association
for the Advancement of Fat Acceptance, Rick comes to realize
that fat is no longer something to despise, change or
eradicate. It has become a true part of his identity, a fact
of life to be understood, accepted and celebrated.

Funny and intelligent, this is a beautifully made film
destined to change public opinion.

Awards: Peabody NAAFA Special Achievement Award; Honorable
Mention, Columbus International Film & Video Festival;
American Psychological Association Film Festival; Genie Awards
Nomination, Montreal; Melbourne International Film Festival;
New Voices/Canadian Showcase, Independent Feature Project

• "By following the life of Zakowich...we are given an insight
  into what should truly matter to people - and it isn't
  size...I'm going to look at people, all people in a different
  way. I highly recommend this video for all public and school
  libraries." **** Video Rating Guide for Libraries
  

• "The lessons of his experience obviously relate to broader
  issues about alienation, self-acceptance, and insidious
  cultural standards. This is a great foil for all those
  aerobic videos." Wilson Library Bulletin
  

• "Funny, endearing, and, at times, quite moving...an
  excellent program...highly recommended. Editor's Choice."
  **** Video Librarian
  

• "...it makes the essential point that our cultural hatred of
  and moralistic attitudes toward obesity are not only damaging
  but may well stand in the way of weight loss, even if desired
  or desirable...I would strongly recommend this film for
  showing to high school students, to employers who want to do
  training...to people in the medical, nutritional or
  therapeutic professions, and to a general audience...It is
  penetrating, witty, and beautifully done." Richard A. Gordon.
  Ph.D., 'Eating Disorders'
  

"This film, FAT CHANCE, was one of the most remarkable pieces
of work and art that I've seen in this field ever." Shay
Harris, Clinical Social Worker at Milwaukee Psychiatric
Hospital, creator of the Obesity and Body Image Program.

"We have to change the focus from how do you make fat people
thin to how do you make fat people healthy and happy."
Rich Zakowich

DIET, EATING DISORDERS, DISABILITIES, PREJUDICE, SOCIAL
STUDIES, HEALTH

ISBN: 0-7722-0501-9

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Bullfrog Films
Box 149, Oley PA 19547
(610) 779-8226
E-Mail: bullfrog@igc.apc.org