Living Large

Kristina Dufkova's 2024 Czech animation follows a twelve-year-old boy mocked at school for his weight. Ben likes to cook and decides to change how he eats in order to impress the girl he likes. The idea is who the change is for. Ben starts out doing it for other people and it does not work; the narrative does not present losing weight as a solution and shows that the real matter is not his body but how he sees himself. It was made in stop motion with handmade character design and the cooking scenes are especially detailed. The tone suits young viewers while the question of body shame is taken seriously and no easy resolution is offered. Who it's for: those who like independent European animation and coming-of-age narratives. Who it's not for: viewers sensitive about body image; the film shows the mockery directly.