Empire Waist
Lenore Miller’s size has always earned her teases and jeers in her school’s hallways, but this clothes-loving teenager is about to set the world on fire with her own line of inclusive fashion designs. Co-starring Rainn Wilson and Missi Pyle.
It’s rare that a debut feature hits with so much laughter and heartbreaking relatability as Claire Ayoub’s Empire Waist. Inspired by her personal essay “Notes to My Twelve-Year-Old Self,” Empire Waist centers on Lenore (Mia Kaplan), a highschooler deeply insecure about her weight and desperate to make herself smaller wherever she goes. After a friendship blooms between her and Kayla (Jemima Yevu), an extroverted and confident fellow plus-size teen, Lenore begins stepping outside of her shell and embracing who she really is. Despite warnings from her mother (Missi Pyle, Galaxy Quest)—a diet-obsessed woman struggling with her own insecurities—and cruel bullying by the popular crowd at school, Lenore makes a group of friends who are all dealing with their own obstacles, and with them enters a fashion design contest. With the support of her new friends, her father (walking dad-joke Rainn Wilson, “The Office”) and her teacher (Jolene Purdy, “Orange is the New Black”), Lenore proves that loving yourself is a radical act. Empire Waist’s diverse young cast, spearheaded by newcomers Kaplan and Yevu, bring sparkling chemistry and hard-hitting authenticity to their roles. With hallway struts that rival your favorite ’90s teen movies, colorful photoshoot montages, and laugh-out-loud dialogue, Empire Waist is more than just another high school flick; it’s a joyful journey for anyone who’s ever struggled to love themselves.
—Emalie Soderback
- Director: Claire Ayoub
- Principal Cast: Mia Kaplan, Jolene Purdy, Jemima Yevu, Holly McDowell, Kassandra Tellez, Missi Pyle, Rainn Wilson
- Country: USA
- Year: 2021
- Running Time: 94 min.
- Producer: Crystal Collins, Justin Baldoni, Andrew Calof
- Screenplay: Claire Ayoub
- Cinematographers: Maria Rusche
- Editors: Aziza Ngozi
- Music: Kovas
- Website: Official Film Website
- Filmography: Debut Feature Film
- Language: English
- US Distributor: Blue Fox Entertainment