Educational Media Reviews Online

Weightless presents large women on their own terms, not as anonymous examples of the expanding American waistline. This short documentary follows Liz Nickels, founder of Big Adventures, as she leads three women on a scuba diving trip to Hawaii.

One very strong feature of Weightless is that it shows large women approaching situations which emphasize their size and fitness level (e.g. fittings for wetsuits and weight belts, carrying heavy oxygen tanks) pragmatically. Filmmaker Faith Pennick does not shy away from describing the adjustments which make the equipment comfortable for large people, but does not overdramatize the process. Pennick, and the women themselves, allow their size to be merely one factor in how they prepare to dive, not a barrier to participation.

Each woman tells her story of struggling with weight and body image, but they do not fit the image of the sedentary and unmotivated overweight American. They have set out for scuba certification and work hard to reach that goal, even if it takes more than one attempt. Liz in particular is a great example of a woman who has accepted her size and capitalized on her leadership skills to create a comfortable space for women like herself in a sport she loves.

Weightless would be an excellent way to prompt discussions of preconceptions of ability, personality, and sexuality based on size, or to contrast the acceptance of large women and large men in sports. With its high production values and beautiful underwater photography, it is an excellent investment for collections strong in gender and women’s studies as well as health, physical education, and recreation.