Hunger Point got my attention because of Barbara Hershey's name. She would not lend her respected name to an ordinary tale of eating disorders. Before giving this Lifetime film a try, I can recall watching no other treatment since the major network TV movie of Karen Carpenter's tragic struggle (1989). Hershey plays a difficult role with empathy, allowing us to care for her even as we see the horror of her well-intentioned child-raising habits. How else can her younger daughter, who is so clearly torn by conflicting feelings, keep going back to her?
Other subtleties are implicit in this younger daughter's characterization: Frannie Hunter as played by Christina Hendricks. For most of the film Frannie sees wrong only in the way others live their lives, and resists all hints that she needs help too (like family members affected by someone's drinking, usually seeing the drinker as the only sick one, slow to realize they've become sick too). The eating disorder (ED) counselor was also played with subtlety: to the uninitiated, a less than ideal worker; to the experienced, doing her best in an greatly discouraging medical field.
After watching Hunger Point, I wanted to check the names of the writers, but first saw the name of the director: Joan Micklin Silver. As soon as I Googled her name I saw she's one of the outstanding directors of the last thirty years, first coming to my attention with Crossing Delancey. At the time (1988), I noticed only the critical praise, not the director's name. After reading about her list of contributions to film, I have no doubt she wanted to work on this film because it was worthy, one of the better treatments of eating disorders even if it comes seemingly late, when the general public is tired of the theme. In time, I have no doubt this film will stand out from the rest, and will be recommended viewing for many people caught up in the ED cycle.
Thanks to writers Jillian Medoff and Deborah Amelon for the novel and screenplay that attracted Barbara Hershey's talents, and the great directing skills of Joan Micklin Silver.
