Lifetime has released the trailer for Surviving the Silence: The Roxane Gay Story, a new original movie executive produced and written by acclaimed author and cultural critic Roxane Gay. The film premieres Saturday, September 5 at 8/7c.
Adapted from Gay’s internationally praised 2017 memoir Hunger: A Memoir of (My) Body, the film chronicles her personal journey through trauma, body image and healing. When 12-year-old Roxane moves with her family to what appears to be the ideal suburban community, her life is forever changed after a devastating act of sexual violence. As she grapples with the lasting effects of that trauma, Roxane turns to food as a means of survival, beginning a lifelong journey to understand her body, reclaim her voice and confront a society that often defines women by their appearance.
Narrated by Gay herself, the film stars Hilda Martin as young Roxane and Sunnii E. Bartee as Roxane as an adult. Asia Youngman directs from Gay’s screenplay.
Surviving the Silence: The Roxane Gay Story is executive produced by Gay alongside Suzanne Todd and Howard Braunstein in association with Suzanne Todd Productions.
The film premieres September 5 at 8/7c on Lifetime.