how a film as dark, unrelenting, and depressing as this was, it left me with a smile. It was just so beautiful and hit every note perfectly that it set up for itself. Again, as stark and poignant as it was, I smile at its grace. Now if only more people actually cared for it...
shareI get your point, it was a really graceful movie but I wasn't smiling at the end. Anders is a tragic character and although he gets angry when the job interviewer brings up his past, it's almost like he is looking for someone to pity him. There was even that one girl he goes to the swimming pool with who showed some interest in him despite him confessing about being a loser.
These are moments one shouldn't dismiss, especially when you are trying to start a new life from scratch. Most of his friends had moved on and, yeah that's too bad, but he wasn't really trying to fit in either.
The ending is so tragic and it made me angry, but it was his choice after all.
ENOUGH from the clown!!!!!!!!
Anders' death was inevitable, so I was neither amused nor angry at the close of this quality film. Being sober for 10 months did not "fix" Anders. He was broken and sobriety, while eliminating his worst behavior, did not return him to a place where he could function in a way that made "starting a new life" an option. He is not able to feel or interact with others in ways that make long-term recovery possible. I feel this is at the core of the film's success.
Before Anders walks into the water in a vain attempt to drown, he has come to the realization that sobriety has not healed him nor made him whole. Most "recovery" films offer up relapse or a (gradual) return to health and happiness as the paths for the addict. Sober yet broken is a fresh and honest take on where some find themselves after rehab. I found the film to be quite good and recommend it.
Anders' death was inevitable, so I was neither amused nor angry at the close of this quality film. Being sober for 10 months did not "fix" Anders. He was broken and sobriety, while eliminating his worst behavior, did not return him to a place where he could function in a way that made "starting a new life" an option. He is not able to feel or interact with others in ways that make long-term recovery possible. I feel this is at the core of the film's success.Excellent post and exactly my point to another poster on this board. Those who have never been addicted imagine that a recovering and recovered addict will feel so much better and it's not true for all addicts. We see this tension in the film, mostly between Anders and his friend Thomas (I think that was the character's name). Thomas perceives what is available to Anders and the friends and family he has around him. Anders feels none of that and so perceivs himself and his life quite differently. There is so much pain for both characters in that chasm of perception that opens up between them.
Before Anders walks into the water in a vain attempt to drown, he has come to the realization that sobriety has not healed him nor made him whole. Most "recovery" films offer up relapse or a (gradual) return to health and happiness as the paths for the addict. Sober yet broken is a fresh and honest take on where some find themselves after rehab
Fatima had a fetish for a wiggle in her scootshare
Anders is a tragic character and although he gets angry when the job interviewer brings up his past, it's almost like he is looking for someone to pity him.For me that scene was one of the most painful because I felt that the interviewer was interested in Anders even with what Anders was forced into revealing and that it did not diminish Anders in the interviewer's eyes. The shame of the admittance was too much for Anders. I doubt he was looking for pity; in fact I don't think he could have borne pity and this is why he gets angry as he's expecting condemnation not pity. I wanted to reach into the screen and tell Anders to take some deep breaths and wait for the interviewer's response. Not to run away.
Fatima had a fetish for a wiggle in her scootshare
It was funny to me
Especially the conversation that included (ex ravers) and his listening into the girls (I wanna do this and wanna do that)
And of course some of the Beautiful imagery made me smile.