Former model Chris Saur grew up in Brazil and because of her lankiness was bullied as a teen, a factor that she says affected her self-esteem. She became a professional model at age 19, traveling the world, yet never feeling fulfilled. Her voice-over fills the screen as she tells viewers that after moving to Los Angeles in her mid-30s, she became involved with a 45-year-old man who physically and emotionally abused her. Desperate to have a purpose in life with her modeling career behind her, and harboring feelings of depression, emptiness, sadness, and loneliness, she decided to embark on a quest to learn the true meaning of beauty. Traveling both in the U.S. and internationally, she interviews a variety of people (seen onscreen), including plastic surgeons, professors, psychics, fashion designers, musicians, chefs, students, and models, among others. Snippets of these interviews reveal answers that are mostly vague, most likely because how does one eloquently express what beauty entails.
Even Saur admits that despite immersing herself in different cultures in Asia, Europe, and Central and South America, she still feels a void and wonders if she is hiding behind the film. One final interview with a woman who was severely beaten by her husband, and after 18 corrective surgeries still displays the facial scars of brutality and abuse, is quite enlightening as she explains how she overcame her trauma and stopped hiding her face “so people wouldn’t feel uncomfortable.” Despite good technical qualities, including identifying captions, scenic footage, and pleasing background music, the film seems a little self-serving, although it might be useful as a discussion starter about self-worth, feelings, and beauty. Optional purchase. Aud: C, P.