Let Her Eat Cake | a short film
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- Опубліковано 10 лют 2025
- Striving to please her overbearing mother, a 13-year-old gymnast attempts to lose 5 pounds in one night.
This is a short film I wrote and directed as my thesis film in college. I couldn't have made it without your support and I am so excited to finally share it here!
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Instagram: / amandapanda767
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This was a beautiful film. When it come to eating disorders, teenage white girls are usually depicted the most and that lead woc, especially black girls, feeling unheard so it was great not only seeing the daughter suffer from it, but the mother too. And you humanized the mother too.
thank you so much
There’s also a LOT of racism online when it comes to black people in eating disordered spaces
i never really noticed this, and now i'm looking back seeing the only representation is overeating, not other ED's, i should've noticed better and as a white girl I'm so sorry x hope ur doing better
I love the conversation between the mother and daughter. My generation couldn't speak back, but this generation demands to be heard. Had my generation spoken back, maybe so many of us would not be estranged from our parents and grandparents. Lovely ending. Well done!
@@fredrika27 the reason we have such a troubled and out of control youth today is because they talk back. You must be young, without being able to see the benefits socially as well as in the family of respecting authority.
Unbelievably good. This felt like a whole feature. The acting. The lighting. The sound mixing when she's trying to be quiet! I was twitching at every sound the cake lid made. Fantastic.
i lovw the sound. i don't understand how it works but these days the biggest projects have horrible audio as well. to see this have such an enticing audio is so satisfying.
Not to mention the title 👌
Hey guys! just a tip; when sneaking down the stairs, have flat feet and don't walk on the middle of the step.
BRO WHEN SHE WAS TRYING TO SNEAK SOME CAKE IT WAS SO STRESSFUL. One of my worst nightmares as a kid😭
fr omg
Real. That feeling of shame and guilt ugh
Literally my life
Oh my god I knowww. And the way she didn't even take it out of the fridge, like get in get out, ahh you could feel that familiar tension.
@@honeysucle10 did this exact thing same container for the cake and everything lol, those containers are so damn loud bruh. I was way more sneaky w it tho it was so stressful when she was tryna eat it in the fridge ahaha
I love how the “Her” in Let Her Eat Cake can be either about the daughter or the mom. It’s from the daughter’s perspective but this is also cathartic and personal for the mom as much as it is for the daughter. It’s a nonlinear experience, it can be either during adolescence or when you’re a grown adult, whether as a parent or not. And specifically in this case, when being a mother and when being a daughter, let alone for Black and nonwhite experiences. This was beautiful and heartfelt! Amazing filmmaking overall!! Also something about this exudes professionalism! I’m a film student and it’s definitely interesting when being one, watching this cause technically id know what the BTS looks like and how shots and other aspects were achieved, so it’s also a “fun” experience guessing or imagining what it wouldve been like to be on set for this, but also with the argument scene, i could imagine how emotional the crew was, just being in awe of the performances and how all of pre production has lead to this!
ahhh I love this analysis! thank you so much :)
An obvious observation but I really do love how the title reflects the mother’s struggles with eating the “wrong” foods. The idea of staying skinny, staying perfect and how it never really leaves even after her career ends. How she lives and breathes it after so long. But I love that it got through to her how abrasive and horrid it is after her argument with her daughter. And I love how her daughter is the one to end it.
Really, just let her eat cake.
"i'd rather be a happy pig" girl is so real for taht
I'm so grateful you created this. I felt so seen, I never saw a Black person represented in media that spoke about EDs like this growing up. I never saw ED media that showed someone speaking up for themselves, choosing themselves like this, in a way that wasn't corny but showed what it's like to be fed up with self hatred. This was wonderful, and as someone who's been in remission for 4 years now, I felt like I could engage with this because it wasn't triggering either. This was thoughtful, honest, and intentional. Thank you
thank you so much. I'm so glad it resonated with you
Them damn cake toppers are the worst! Never could sneak a piece 🍰 without waking up the whole house.. 😂
right!!
I got so crafty I could do it even when my dad started to sleep downstairs (closer to the kitchen)
Exactly😂
ikr
The ending is so melancholy, both these people have such deeply rooted issues that it’s gonna take years to heal from that kind of damage
I like how she was the only nonwhite girl in the class, there’s just something about being one of the only, if not the only nonwhite girls on a team and feeling inherently mediocre for it; that was probably the most relatable aspect of the film for me. It’s alienating to not have good athletes around you who look like you.
same
Also that when she was on social media it was all white gals
My little sister and I both struggle from disordered eating in different ways, she’s more likely to eat snacks over meals and I sometimes go without eating anything for long stretches of time. However because she’s bigger than me she gets lectured about eating more often. Eating disorders don’t have a “look” and it’s so important that both the mom and the daughter are shown to struggle
Same. My mom. Everyday looking and commenting about my body. I was 125 pounds and she was still body shaming me. I struggle till this day with it.
How is eating snacks over meals a eating disorder?
I kept my weight down in high school by drinking white distilled vinegar straight from the bottle and then going days without eating....
@@theresacoringgray6885 going days without eating only constipated me and constipation caused weight gain
@@MistyMitchell-b5oLack of nutrients and proper food, less calories than an average meal. Hence making you lose more weight. Eating disorders don’t have a specific way of BEING one, it can vary and there are MANY symptoms.
Thank you. I felt seen. Im a black woman who had anorexia. Only black girl in uk ward. No one thought i was anorexic because i still had hips and i didnt weigh as less as my counterparts, but i was still seriously ill and close to death. Thank u for showing eating disorders come in different forms and not just stereotypes ❤❤❤
Thank you so much
Your story rings so true. Went through the same thing but so happy there is finally a voice for us that will not be forgotten! 💜
I hope you’re doing well my love!! You are so strong and so brave and I’m so proud of you. Keep on rocking on ❤❤❤❤❤
i hope you're doing well honey ❤ but what does being black has to do with this?
@@l.v1843it’s mostly yt girls who are depicted with having EDs, plus being curvy is more prominent amongst black girls so it’s harder for us to fit into the whole ED thing etc.
If that makes sense
This was so beautiful and brilliant - short but deep. You captured the complex dynamic of beauty, societal, and parental expectations in such a short time window. Not to mention the complex dynamic of teen girls and their mothers. What a body of artwork but I’m not at all surprised. You have a gift and I look forward to seeing where you take it. From one creative to another, All the best.
I love how this shows that *anyone* can develop an Ed, truly magical.
I love how unsettling the ending is. They never verbally resolve anything, just sit there in silent acceptance. Sure they've made up now, but who knows how many times this has happened; how many times this will happen? Fantastic short film.
oh my goodness the clip of her opening the loud ass cake container was too real. It was all unfortunately too real. great writing & direction Amanda, this is amazing. the score is also gorgeous, thank you for sharing!
"you shouldve thought of that before you got knocked up by a deadbeat" and she finished her!
The way I gasped when that line left her mouth
That caught me by surprise but she ate her mom up😧😭
Having a mom who says „get rid of it“ is different level of anger in me.
Bro it made me so freaking mad
no samee. I had to pause it to processsss
The scene of her tracing scissors down her legs is something I did my entire childhood. I'd fantasise about cutting my stomache out... oh my gosh.
🫂
I’m 44 and still think about it occasionally
You did a wonderful job. ❤ This should be shown to students, especially in high school health classes. It would make for great discussion and analysis amongst young people.
when she went to cut her legs i was so scared cringing waiting for blood- this was fantastic! so so real.
I was a ballerina from the time I was 2-3 years old until I was 12. Once I began the puberty stage at age 7, I was developing much faster than all of my friends. By the time I was 12, I was already a double D and rapidly growing. The director of my dance company announced in front of everyone that girls could no longer wear sports bras under their leotards. I knew that was a dog whistle to suggest I would not be able to advance to pointe because of my Black Latina curves.
I have always been heartbroken over that loss because dance was such a huge part of my life, but those spaces can be so toxic and harmful to our body image. This film brought so many of those emotions back within such a short amount of time. I know it’s going to resonate with a lot of others too. Congratulations on a beautiful film and perfect script ❤
What skill have you focused on since then?
@@RealNapoleonBonaparte81569 weird asf what's' wrong with you
“I’m not really hungry.” “Good!”….oof.
Beautiful but so triggering. The mom reminds me so much of my own.
@@kookykiddo same
@@kookykiddoI hope you’ve found healing from that ❤❤
Relatable
@@kookykiddoi get it
the way the mom just saw the marker marks on her leg and just helped her clean it off warmed my heart, so refreshing
“You brought me Into this world and you can take me out, I KNOW.” Was a little too real- 😢
😭
Yes
Fr
The daughter ate up the whole argument dude😭 Good points and everything. The knocked up part had me gasp, but besides that, as she should.
as a 14yr black girl w ednos who's eating disorder literally formed from disordered spaced online, this is LITERALLY ME i'm 6 minutes in and this has shown so much of what i go thru that people NEVERRR wanna talk abt
Amanda, this was incredible and beautiful.
I was honestly a little worried that the mom was going to be handled in a very one note way but I should've known you would never miss the nuances and boil down characters so simply. I love the way you acknowledge the way that trauma is a cycle and that it isn't usually intentionally passed down, and that there are parents/people who only need to realize the harm in what they're doing to try and do better, for themselves and for others. it's just a really nice, real depiction of the complexity in dynamic between mother and daughter/child.
as a preteen girl who often suffers with body image, this is truly my favorite short film. it just feels so real.
Had me crying in the first 2 minutes. It's unbelievable the stress about weight we put on literally children.
“Im not really hungry” “good” damn :(
Bruh and then the mom starts shoving her face
@@L3onaluvsuikr-?? 😢😢
I'm so happy to see the final project, this was beautiful ! The attention to details and the way the message is deleivered is amazing ! So excited to see more of your talent !
So proud to be an Associate Producer on this film! Well done, Amanda and to the whole cast and crew 😊❤
5:10 Those things are the loudest/hardest things to open EVER. 💀 Jokes aside, this was really well made! ❤
Not me fighting back TEARS omg Amanda this was beautiful.
This was an excellent short film. The story managed to tell so much in such a short time frame. I hope you continue along the path of storytelling and film making!
Thank you! That's the plan!
Oh my gosh when she was running outside and fell/passed out I flinched. 🤕 great job. You really captured my attention (span) as I was randomly browsing on UA-cam. Great storytelling! I love seeing and supporting other black girls in film!! ❤️👏🏾
Seriously, thanks. I wish more people cared. It's really a different experience for us for so many reasons, and I feel you captured that by showing instead of telling. Also, the mother's acting is sooooo good. The struggling with the cake was too much even :')
Incredible! It brings awareness to ED's and their prevalence amongst all people, cultures, ages, races, and ethnicities. As a sufferer of an ED (been in recovery for 3 months now), the awareness of it is brushed off too easily sometimes. I hope you continue to produce more films! My sister was also a film student (graduated in '21) and produces incredible workpieces as well.
This makes me miss my late mom. She was nothing like this mom, but it made me want to hug her and say thank you! 🥺
just had an episode of binge eating in secret, the mother's expression after she finished the cake resonates so painfully much. it's as if our mind fades away while we eat and comes back to taunt us when we're done. i love that there's FINALLY a short film about EDs with black actors👏🏼
readjusting the scale, the marks on her thighs hurt sm especially bc both of them are already so beautiful and for once, the daughter actually recognizes it!! the world needed this, absolutely phenomenal!!💗💗
so moving, this really hit home. watched it twice and it gets better each time. unbelievable job, this is true talent
thank you so much
This was so beautiful! Wow, thank you for sharing this with us! I hope you let yourself feel very proud of this!
W message. W directing. W ending. W video!!!!!!!!
I love your film it teaches a lot about the abuse that people in sports go through and body disorders that come with it
Amanda, this was incredible! Well done! I totally see you becoming a full length feature film director.
Wow, this film is incredibly moving. Every bit of it is well done. I'm speechless. I would love to see more films from you because the storytelling here is enthralling. 👏
I'm a thick, healthy mixed girl, so this was kind of relatable. I often get comments about my body, whether it be positive or negative. I used to get the most disgusting comments from someone in my life. I thought about offing myself. I'm fine now, but sometimes I get so on edge just thinking about it
I love this film and I really like the score. I shed a tear at the end.
I weighted 41 kg. 167 cm tall. I almost dropped out of my biology Studium, which was and is my dream, I got sick, I couldn't keep my job, I couldn't walk stairs, I couldn't even really go out, I was tired every day, I felt sick every day, by hair was breaking apart, my lymphatic system was overloaded and my face got swollen. My skin was sensible, my nails broken.
It's your only life, live it for yourself, not for random other guys, they got their own life and care about it more than about you suffering for them.
I couldn't keep playing Cello.
My mom told me later, she cried a lot and thought some day my heart would stop beating. She never cried in front of me that time, so I could know. I always looked and felt half dead. More dead than alive and for what. Others? Beauty standards?
Who cares when you're under the ground, if people shame you bc of kindergarten mean girls bullsht, change your people.
this was unexpectedly brilliant. sadly i relate a lot with the mom and daughter, so refreshing to see a story like mine told using actors and a script that matches my life too lol :)
Amanda, this is really good! From the acting, editing, and sound design...the list can go on forever! This was very captivating!
Thank you so much!!
I felt the pain. I felt the love, the anger even the sadness. This peice of art is a masterpiece. ❤
So proud of you amanda!! This was beautiful, u got me in tears gurl
I am not black, but I love seeing how there are black characters depicted! it's always usually white girls, but it was lovely seeing someone of a different race. Beautiful film
You had me at the edge of my chair the whole time. Congratulations to all the people behind this amazing film, can't wait to see your work on the big screen 🤍🤍
I was so excited when I saw that you uploaded your short film to the channel. Congratulations on a job well done! Being able to tell a complete story in such a short amount of time is impressive.
this is the most beautiful thing i’ve ever watched. i’m not lying when i say that. i will remember this forever
i love the visual image of Claudia taking off her layers like she shed her mothers expectations!!!! love the lighting and very professional looking editing. the shot of blood coming out as she cvt her thigh rlly got to me :(
All too relatable... also I would've been tweaking if my house was that loud sneaking around I would been caught 😂😂
Wow, this was very sweet (no pun intended). Great film!
We don't usually see these situations with black girls at the forefront
this hit close to home. such beautiful work all around, thank u amanda :)
So exciting to see what you had planned come to life! Great film!!
Phew that tension was insane! Great work!
This is precious, Amanda, thanks. It hurts, but it lets in the promise of healing.
I love the representation 🥹 please make more short films in the future ❤❤❤
this was an absolutely beautiful film, im at a loss for words i feel like i just watched an entire movie
the quality of it was great!
Wow.that was so powerful! I felt it! Every step, every bite, all the way to her wiping off the marker on her thighs 🤌🏽🤌🏽🤌🏽
This movie was BEAUTIFUL, and I mean every part of it from the aesthetics to the message -- their juicy natural hair to the way an eating disorder was highlighted, to the road to healing. The acting was great, the plot... I could go on. Bravo, bravo.
I look forward to seeing your first feature length flick on the silver screen, Mandy
This was so well done Amanda! I'm don't know if this was intentional, but in the scene where the daughter is stripping off all the layer she had on, I interpreted it as her getting rid of all the toxic things that had been drilled into her head about her weight. I'd like to think that it gets better for her and her mom after this. Thank you for this film and please keep telling more stories!
The hits so hard. I’m a young black girl, I’m overweight and everyone tells me, and I’m even in performing where it’s been customary for a while to be thin. I swear I relived so much suppressed trsumw
This is heartbreaking, and there were moments that were hard to watch for all the right reasons. Yet, the story and the directing is so gripping that i couldn't look away. This is amazing, i loved every minute. 👏 👏 👏 got me tearing up 😢
Wow, this was a hard watch. Very raw, and relatable in ways. Amazing details, and so captivating. Honestly felt like I was tuned into a series I’ve been watching. Definitely grabbed me. The twist.. wow, very emotional. Good job.
This is a beautiful film and its message is so important. Everyone needs to see this!!!
This is amazing!! I can't wait to see more of your short films! 😍😍 I would love to see what all went into making this.
I love the part where the mom eats the cake and knows how it feels for her this is so heart warming ❤️
this is incredible
Wow this is amazing, you’ve provided a perspective that was underrepresented.
The script and acting was wonderful and I'm obsessed with the sounds!
How do i cast my vote for the oscars proud of you amanda this is amazing you should be very happy and proud of yourself and how this came out
thank you :)
this film is BEAUTIFULLY done, and the acting is spot on! i can feel the emotions through the screen
"The metabolism of a hummingbird." That was awesome!! Great film!
incredible. I feel honoured to finally watch !!
Girl!!! You should keep making these this was insanely beautiful!!
Loved this, especially the use of the sound and music
This is genuinely so sweet! Love the performances here, the relationship feels very real even if it's strained it really hits
Wow. This made me so emotional. Such a harsh reality for legacy kids, and young female athletes & so rarely told from the perspective of black women. Beautifully done. Amazing work. amazing job!
This is excellent. The acting, the effects and the message...I can't believe this was a thesis film. It seems like it was made by someone far more seasoned and experienced. Kudos to you for this. Very well done.
this is an impeccable film. i have had ed for 6 years and they both played the part beautifully, and captured how it really is
So so so good and I haven’t even finished watching it, I was immediately captivated by the cinematography, the acting, the music - just amazing.
4:04……😂😂 the run was crazy asl
im saying
this felt like a movie, the emotions and everything are amazing.
Am i the only one that was screaming "close the fridge! "
Girl this was sooo beautiful and captivating from the start!!! WOW WOW WOW big congratulations on this film!
Thank you so much!!
this is so incredibly accurate. had an ed at 13 too. i did the same thing to my legs, would run when nobody was watching, and sneak food. crazy seeing this
The mother and daughter fighting, meanwhile I’m like; “THE FRIDGE, CLOSE THE FRIDGE”
Knocked up by a deadbeat is crayyyy
This is so powerful. Well done! 👏
This was amazing, the acting, the facial expressions, everything. Love it smmmm