DVD Review: Boobs

Boobs is a documentary following one young woman’s journey through the breast enlargement process. It opens with Andeleana Muir (who goes by the name Precious Muir for her modeling career) saying if she doesn’t wake up after her operation that she wants her family to know she loves them. We then see her being prepared for surgery. And if it weren’t for the film’s title, we might think she was going in for a life-or-death operation. She’s not, of course; she’s getting her breasts enlarged.

The film then cuts to a commercial shoot where Precious talks about some skin product. And in voice over she says how it’s difficult to be a model in New York. She’s done teen catalogue work, but wants to take her career to the next level, and, as she says, “The only way for me to do that is to get my breasts enlarged.”

The film follows her journey, including her initial consultation, and we meet her doctors, including Dr. Haramis, the plastic surgeon who will handle her operation. In an interview, he comes across as reasonable. We also meet Guy, Precious’ boyfriend, who says he likes her breasts the way they are, but who doesn’t try to talk her out of the procedure. He admits he’d brag if his girlfriend ends up in Playboy, coming off as rather juvenile but kind.

Precious speaks candidly about her goals regarding the breast enlargement, mainly her wish to get into Playboy. It’s difficult to really feel for this woman on any sort of emotional level, or to sympathize with her. She says, in an interview: “I’m obviously a religious person. I believe in God. And I feel like I’m going against that right now.” But any religious aspect of her character doesn’t really come into play. On the day of the surgery she repeats that she is nervous. This is played up a bit much; for again, this isn’t necessary surgery. It’s vanity. So it’s difficult to care whether she’s nervous, or religious, or that she’s crying (as we see her do).

On the day of the surgery she admits to not telling her parents, and it would be great if the film delved more into her relationship with them. Later, one of the film’s most honest moments is when she finally does tell her mother about the operation over the internet. And it’s interesting that her mother was a model, and started Precious’ own career when Precious was just four years old. Again, this is a really interesting angle, and I wish the film spent more time in this area. At the very least, it would be good to have a separate interview with Precious’ mother about just why she started Precious modeling at such a young age, and how she feels about what Precious has done to her body.

The film shows us some of the actual procedure, which is interesting and, yes, a little disgusting. The doctor actually explains the procedure as it goes. And her boyfriend gives his opinion of the results while Precious is still under, which strikes me as odd. And then we see Precious as she deals with the post-surgery pains and disappointments.

The film is really about one woman’s surgery and its effects on her life in relation to her short-term goals. It doesn’t really investigate the larger social issues at play here, such as the ways in which women’s visions of themselves are created and altered by the images in the media, and also the possible gap between what is necessary for a modeling career and what feels necessary. A lot of the footage is video shot by her boyfriend and by Precious herself, so some of it is jumpy and not all that well-composed.

Boobs was directed by Jon Bulette and Stone Roberts, and is scheduled to be released on DVD on October 14, 2014 through Garden Thieves Pictures. The film, by the way, contains this opening credit: “and introducing Precious Muir,” an odd credit for a documentary.