What's Your Beautiful?

Co-produced by the New York-based Educational Video Center in conjunction with HBO and the National Endowment for the Arts, this documentary focuses on selfie-loving EVC youth producer teens Samantha and Nang. Mainly featuring Samantha, What's Your Beautiful? follows the 19-year-old self-professed Instagram junkie as she applies makeup (“It hides what I don't want other people to see”) and admits to self-esteem issues, mainly stemming from put-downs from a past relationship. Secondary subject Nang, a Burmese 18-year-old, frets about her weight, and re-enacts her unhealthy behavior of starvation in an unfortunately lame vignette that detracts from the seriousness of her issues. Professional input comes from Rutgers sociologist Elizabeth Ziff, who looks at the subjects of selfies and self-esteem, and Christina Benavides of Girls Incorporated of NYC, who notes the media, social, and cultural pressures facing women around the globe. A low-budget film with a light but also direct tone and engaging subjects, this is a surefire discussion-starter. Recommended. Aud: H, C, P. (J. Williams-Wood)