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Girl Model
By Sandie Angulo Chen,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Candid look at a sometimes-frightening industry.
A Lot or a Little?
What you will—and won't—find in this movie.
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What's the Story?
The rarefied world of international fashion modeling is exposed in GIRL MODELS, which follows Ashley, an American modeling scout who's sent to Siberia to find the "right" kind of 13-year-old girls to model in Tokyo. The filmmakers juxtapose the life of jaded Ashley with the hopeful-turned-melancholy journey of young Nadya, a 13-year-old who leaves her the Siberian countryside for Tokyo, where she only communicates with other Russian models, whose every choice is seemingly dictated by the iron-clad contract they've signed. After three months, Nadya could return to Siberia with a much-needed $8,000 or go home completely in debt, and she's not in control of either outcome.
Is It Any Good?
From the opening scene, in which dozens of barely dressed girls parade in front of Ashley, Girl Model is a difficult documentary to watch. It's cringe-inducing to see how these beautiful girls -- every one of them -- are picked apart for perceived imperfections. Every person involved in the modeling industry in this movie comes across as a collaborator or perpetrator of a corrupt, soul-sucking enterprise that damages the young women involved in it. As Nadya attempts to enjoy her experience, there's really little to call home about except for unending homesickness and literal hunger.
Ashley's candor, therefore, isn't just surprising but refreshing. She's not doing anything of substance, and she knows it. The industry is built on "nothing," she says, and is dictated by the aesthetic whims of a few arbiters of what's considered fashionable or beautiful. She's cynical, and for good reason: The girls she scouts for her Tokyo agency leave their families (and in some cases their innocence) in search of fame -- or at least a steady income -- that could never materialize. They can be sent packing for gaining as little as one centimeter at a time when their bodies are supposed to be developing. Eye-opening for any older girl curious about the potential pitfalls of modeling, this is a frank depiction of a frightening industry.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Girl Model's message about the modeling industry. What don't you see when you look at a beautiful girl's photo in a magazine?
Discuss body image issues with your kids. What does it say about modeling when some of the bikini-clad girls are called "too fat" or the scout says certain countries want to see only super skinny, super young girls?
Movie Details
- In theaters: September 5, 2012
- On DVD or streaming: February 12, 2013
- Cast: Ashley Arbaugh , Nadya Vall
- Directors: Ashley Sabin , David Redmon
- Studio: First Run Features
- Genre: Documentary
- Run time: 77 minutes
- MPAA rating: NR
- Last updated: July 30, 2022
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