Alcoholics Anonymous
2014
Alcoholics Anonymous is an international fellowship of people who have had a drinking problem. It is nonprofessional, self-supporting, multiracial, apolitical, and available almost everywhere. There are no age or education requirements. Membership is open to anyone who wants to do something about their drinking problem.
BUCK was approached by AA with an open brief, tasked with telling its members' stories, their struggles in the shadow of addiction, and how they've found themselves back toward the light of recovery.
We were given an edit consisting of field recordings from real AA members. Each voice recalls a memory — a moment where they struggled, stumbled, or fell — moments that illuminate the fighting against the darkness. As we acknowledge the member’s journeys, the film positions Alcoholics Anonymous as a process, part of that larger journey. A group that can provide a path towards recovery by way of repetition, communication, and community support.
“Contact AA, it works”
The simplicity of this statement was the guiding light in our creative process. It was crucial to not paint AA as a panacea. And we didn’t want to overly-dramatize these stories — we weren’t fishing for tears. Rather, we wanted to acknowledge these real stories of pain with transparency, and speak of AA with truth. AA is a process, a venue to return to, a rock to cling to, a friend to count on, as we walk on the path towards recovery.
