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Well Rounded

Maple Leaf This item is only available for Canadian orders.

Catalogue Number:  SHAN00
Producer:  Shana Myara
Producing Agencies:  Ample Media
Subject:  Arts, Canadian Social Issues, Diversity, Documentary, First Nations Studies, Gender Studies, Guidance, Health and Medicine, Indigenous Issues, Indigenous Peoples, Music, Psychology, Social Issues, Social Sciences, Sociology, Women's Studies
Language:  English
Grade Level:  Post Secondary, Adult
Country Of Origin:  Canada
Copyright Year:  2020
Running Time:  60:13


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Shana Myara’s documentary focuses on fat and fierce babes in Canada who are using their creativity to clap back at a diet culture that seeks to shrink marginalized bodies. Interviewees all tell stories of struggle, self-actualisation and radicalization, and taking back charge in a fatphobic, racist heteronormative society. Here, fatness, queer identity and race intersect in unique ways that never get represented in film, underlined with a fat-ass bass soundtrack and gorgeous animation. It’s a truly liberating film, and through its use of burlesque, comedy, dance circus, media and more, you will be left in no doubt of the intrinsic value of ALL bodies. DIY, direct and full of heart, Well Rounded takes us through personal stories of terror and triumph – this is the fat queer film we’ve been waiting for!

  • Features Mi'qmaw force of nature, comedian and broadcaster, Candy Palmater.
  • Ivory, a founding member of the Succulent Six, Canada’s team of Curvy Super SHEroes and proud member of Les Femmes Fatales.
  • Lydia Okello, model, stylist and writer/editor.
  • Joanne Tsung, stand-up comic and storyteller, and a queer Taiwanese-Canadian activist who lives on the unceded territory of the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh.
  • Dr. Janet Tomiyama, Psychologist
  • Dr. Jenny Ellison, Historian and author of Being Fat.

WARNING: Mature content. Viewer discretion is advised.

WINNER – BEST CANADIAN FILM – Reelout Queer Film Festival 2021



“Canadian comedian Candy Palmater is just one of six utterly engaging voices representing BIPOC, LGB2TQ+, and disabled and fat voices in this uplifting and powerful 61-minute documentary from Shana Myara. It examines the challenges of existing in a fatphobic, heteronormative, racist world; there’s struggle—some of these stories, particularly at the hands of health professionals, are utterly appalling—but there’s also revolution, liberation and radicalization.” – Vogue

“Her film carries profound messages about body positivity from four compelling, articulate, and larger-than-average LGBT+ people: Joanne Tsung and Lydia Okello from Vancouver, and Ivory Conover and Candy Palmater from Toronto. Their heartfelt and often humourous perspectives are augmented by viewpoints from two academic researchers, Canadian historian Jenny Ellison and UCLA weight-stigma researcher Janet Tomiyama.” – Georgia Straight

“Shana Myara’s Well Rounded is a powerhouse documentary, totally unique and totally inspiring. Centred around some of Canada’s most fabulous fat performers, models, comedians and writers, Myara’s documentary effectively highlights the intersectionality between fatness, queerness, and race, and how fat-phobia has become a normalised prejudice not to be taken trivially.” – UK Film Review


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