''For the Love of Nancy'' is a 1994 American

made-for-television A television film, alternatively known as a television movie, made-for-TV film/movie or TV film/movie, is a feature-length film that is produced and originally distributed by or to a television network, in contrast to theatrical films made for ...

drama film In film and television, drama is a category or genre of narrative fiction (or semi-fiction) intended to be more serious than humorous in tone. Drama of this kind is usually qualified with additional terms that specify its particular super-g ...

directed by Paul Schneider. The film, based on a true story, deals with

anorexia nervosa Anorexia nervosa, often referred to simply as anorexia, is an eating disorder characterized by low weight, food restriction, body image disturbance, fear of gaining weight, and an overpowering desire to be thin. ''Anorexia'' is a term of Gr ...

. Lead actress

Tracey Gold Tracey Gold (born May 16, 1969) is an American actress and former child star known for playing Carol Seaver on the 1980s sitcom ''Growing Pains''. Acting career Tracey Gold became an actress at the age of four, first appearing in a Pepsi print ...

was actually recovering from the disease while making the movie and used her own life experience for the portrayal of Nancy.Trivia: For the Love of Nancy (1994)
Internet Movie Database

Plot

Nancy Walsh is a high school graduate who is apprehensive about the future. After losing weight after having her wisdom teeth removed, she notices changes in her body and becomes obsessed with her physical appearance. When she begins college, she becomes withdrawn and remains conscious about her weight. She embarks upon a regimented exercising routine, hardly eats and rarely interacts with anybody. At college, she spends most of her time in her room, where she obsesses about keeping her living space in meticulous order. Although most of her friends, neighbors and brother Tommy notice that she is losing a lot of weight, her mother ignores the changes in Nancy. Her brother Patrick is the first one to confront her about it and at a Christmas party, everyone is shocked by how thin she looks. They confront her and she promises them that everything is going to be okay. Her mother, Sally believes her, but her uncle convinces her that if they remain complacent, Nancy could die. Soon, Nancy admits to being

anorexic Anorexia nervosa, often referred to simply as anorexia, is an eating disorder characterized by low weight, food restriction, body image disturbance, fear of gaining weight, and an overpowering desire to be thin. ''Anorexia'' is a term of Gre ...

, revealing that she does not know how to stop the disorder. She is reluctant to be taken to the hospital, but Sally is keen for her to get help to ultimately recover. She enters a group session, but feels she doesn't belong there. Nevertheless, she refuses to eat and even goes as far as hiding food, to fake her progress. She is soon caught, and the doctor decides to connect her to a

feeding tube Eating (also known as consuming) is the ingestion of food, typically to provide a heterotrophic organism with energy and to allow for growth. Animals and other heterotrophs must eat in order to survive — carnivores eat other animals, her ...

. After a while, she makes progress, gaining six pounds. This upsets her, and because she is over eighteen, she is able to sign herself out of the hospital. Upon her return home, she continues starving herself, much to the distress of her mother. When she finds plates with food under her bed, she confronts her and realizes that Nancy is lying. Nancy resists any attempts at help and doesn't even respond when she is forced to eat. Her mother asks her in tears why she is doing it, but she doesn't explain. Tommy is afraid that she will soon die. Meanwhile, she becomes extremely sick from

malnutrition Malnutrition occurs when an organism gets too few or too many nutrients, resulting in health problems. Specifically, it is "a deficiency, excess, or imbalance of energy, protein and other nutrients" which adversely affects the body's tissues a ...

, and is eventually hospitalized because of a

kidney disease Kidney disease, or renal disease, technically referred to as nephropathy, is damage to or disease of a kidney. Nephritis is an inflammatory kidney disease and has several types according to the location of the inflammation. Inflammation can ...

. Her parents feel that they can't do anything but watch her die. Desperate, Sally decides to go to Dr. Partana to ask how their family can help Nancy. The doctor informs Sally that Nancy needs to have someone become her medical guardian. Tom, Nancy's father, decides to go to court against Nancy for the guardianship. Realizing that her parents are only trying to help her, Nancy gives in and lets her father become her guardian. Tom sends Nancy back to the hospital, where Nancy admits having anorexia nervosa and in the end gains weight and starts to regain a normal life. She now feels open to talk about her anorexia.

Cast

as Nancy Walsh *

Jill Clayburgh Jill Clayburgh (April 30, 1944 – November 5, 2010) was an American actress known for her work in theater, television, and cinema. She received the Cannes Film Festival Award for Best Actress and was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Act ...

as Sally Walsh *

Cameron Bancroft Cameron Timothy Bancroft (born 19 November 1992) is an Australian cricketer contracted to Western Australia in Australian first class cricket, Durham in English first class cricket, and the Perth Scorchers in the Big Bash League. He made his Te ...

as Patrick Walsh *

Mark-Paul Gosselaar Mark-Paul Harry Gosselaar (; born March 1, 1974) is an American actor. He is known for his television roles, most notably as Zack Morris in ''Saved by the Bell''. In 1991, he won a Young Artist Award for Best Young Actor Starring in an Off-Pri ...

as Tommy Walsh *

Deanna Milligan Deanna Milligan (born January 1, 1972, Vancouver, Canada) is a Canadian actress. She has appeared in numerous Canadian and American films and television shows. Career Milligan had a major role playing Dave Thomas' daughter in ''The Beachcomber ...

as Debbie *Michael MacRae as Uncle Tommy *

William Devane William Joseph Devane (born September 5, 1939) is an American actor. He is known for his role as Greg Sumner on the primetime soap opera '' Knots Landing'' (1983–1993) and as James Heller on the Fox serial dramas '' 24'' (2001–2010) and '' ...

as Tom Walsh *

Garwin Sanford Garwin Sanford (born 14 March 1955) is a Canadian film and television actor known for his roles on ''Stargate SG-1'' and ''Stargate Atlantis''. Career Sanford's most notable roles are Narim in ''Stargate SG-1'' and Simon Wallace in ''Stargate ...

as Dr. Partana *

Michael Buie Michael Buie is a Canadian-born film and television actor, known primarily for portraying Fox News anchor Bret Baier in the 2019 film ''Bombshell'', and his recurring role as Paul Dawson on the long-running ABC television series ''Grey's Anatomy ...

as Mike

References

External links

*{{IMDb title, id=0109822, title=For the Love of Nancy 1994 films 1994 television films 1994 drama films American drama television films Films about eating disorders Films about psychiatry Body image in popular culture ABC Motion Pictures films Films directed by Paul Schneider (director) 1990s American films 1990s English-language films