Karen Carpenter: Starving for Perfection

2023, NR, U.S., Documentary, 110 minutes
  Filmmakers in Attendance

Director: Randy Martin
Producer: Andy Streitfeld
Writer: Randy Schmidt
Cast: Olivia Newton-John, Carol Burnett, Carnie Wilson, Cynthia Gibb, Kristin Chenoweth, Cubby O-Brien, Belinda Carlisle

As the No. 1 American musical act of the 1970s, The Carpenters were “top of the world,” producing a string of pop music masterpieces—including Close to You, We’ve Only Just Begun and Rainy Days and Mondays. But behind closed doors, Karen’s quest for perfection resulted in low self-esteem, a disheartening love life and a very public battle with anorexia nervosa, the eating disorder that resulted in her untimely death at the age of only 32.

Karen Carpenter: Starving for Perfection is a captivating, revealing and unvarnished documentary providing astounding new insight into the singer’s tragically short life and enduring musical legacy. Featuring testimonial interview footage of stars such as Carol Burnett, the late Olivia Newton-John, Kristin Chenoweth and more, this film offers a vulnerable look into the pressures of stardom.