Maddie's Secret

Director: John Early Cast: John Early, Kate Berlant, Kristen Johnston, Vanessa Bayer, and Chris Bauer. Comedian John Early s first film is a tragicomedy about a foodfluencer struggling with bulimia. Known for his signature offbeat delivery, comedian and actor John Early s directorial debut delivers as much snark as it does heart. He stars as the food influencer Maddie, struggling to balance her aspirations for a career surrounded by food with a years-long eating disorder she s kept secret from all those closes to her. Perhaps hardest of all, Maddie s Secret handles the horror of bulimia with startling clarity, bringing to light the shame, control and self-destruction that underpin binge-eating and purging. It s a powerful piece of work, risky but deeply rewarding. (ANNA BOGUTSKAYA)