Alcoholism, otherwise known asalcohol use disorder, impacts millions of people around the world.
Over the years, many movies have tried to portray this disorder accurately, with frankly mixed results.
The best portrayals of alcohol use disorder humanize those who live with this condition.
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Some movies, likeThe Hustler, showcase how alcohol use disorder can often co-occur with other addictions.
It is based on the novel of the same name byCharles R. Jackson.
Eddie meets Sarah (Piper Laurie), who struggles with alcohol use disorder.
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The two form a relationship and eventually move in together.
Sarah helps Eddie recover when he is attacked after Eddie’s hustling goes wrong.
While Sarah’s story ultimately ends in tragedy, she causes Eddie to reflect on his own life.
The Hustleris notable for being a fairly early portrayal of alcohol use disorder in women.
Both of them then navigate Alice’s recovery, with its successes and challenges.
He finds himself increasingly lost in the illness.
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A Star is Bornis another tragic take on alcohol use disorder.
It is devastating to watch Jack’s life become increasingly unmanageable.
He plans to drink himself to death after feeling completely lost in despair.
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He pilots a plane that experiences a mechanical failure that requires an emergency landing.
Whip’s alcohol use disorder impacted his ability to respond to this emergency, which his co-pilot knew.
At Thanksgiving, she attempts to reconnect with her family by offering to cook a massive holiday meal.
As the holiday continues, Krisha continues to struggle with her sobriety as conflicts emerge.
She ultimately expresses the fact that she feels abandoned by people who she counted on for support.
Ultimately, this movie is very tense, another story that portrays alcohol use disorder as a family disease.
The two go from social drinking to regular drinking over time, and find their lives increasingly chaotic.
Their relationship comes to a crossroads when Joe engages in recovery and begins to rebuild his life.
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