Karen Carpenter: Starving for Perfection

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Brent H @BrentMHinson Jan 2 It is easy for an armchair psychologist to walk away from this documentary and feel they have successfully diagnosed the factors leading to Karen Carpenter's tragic death. The film's narrative focuses heavily on the controlling nature of her parents and, to a lesser extent, her brother, Richard. This documentary argues that Karen was never meant to be the "chosen one". Instead, her brother Richard—four years her senior—was touted as the gifted child and the intended focal point, a sentiment most fiercely championed by their mother, Agnes. While there is ample evidence to support this—bolstered by interviews with friends like Olivia Newton-John, fans such as Carnie Wilson and Belinda Carlisle, and even archival audio from Karen herself—the film ultimately feels incomplete. Ultimately, Starving for Perfection offers no resolution. Instead, it shines a necessary, if singular, light on the foundational elements that contributed to the tragic conclusion of Karen Carpenter's story. See more Read all reviews

Karen Carpenter: Starving for Perfection

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