Documentary
2025 Norway
18 minutes
Language: Norwegian
Subtitles: English
Director: Hannah Nordanger
Producer: Synne Fjellheim Wenger
The film was made by students at the Norwegian TV-School, University of Inland, Lillehammer
Synopsis
In this short film, we meet Heidi, who has now put her ballet career behind her after developing an eating disorder. The first time she auditioned, she was only 6½ years old, and was accepted into the Opera’s ballet school even then. Talented and dedicated, a career as a ballet dancer was already assured before she had even finished her studies at the art college. As an employee of the Norwegian Opera and Ballet in Oslo, she should have felt happy to have realized her dream, but growing up in front of the mirror had taken a heavy toll on her self-esteem. Training always focused on the potential for improvement and became a relentless pursuit of perfection. On good days, the mirror was her best friend, but on bad days, it was her enemy. When a teacher suggested that Heidi should start counting calories, a creeping process began where Heidi started making rules around food. Weight loss led to a sense of accomplishment, and from there, the path led into a full-blown eating disorder. Today, Heidi runs her own bakery, which serves as a gathering place for dancers struggling with the condition and for others with eating disorders. The film is beautifully produced and offers important insights into why and how such difficulties develop.