Showing @ Filmhouse, Edinburgh until Sun 17 Feb

James Ponsoldt / USA / 2012 / 81 min

Despite legislative efforts like the Alcohol Minimum Pricing Act 2012, the nation’s favourite drug is presented by pop-culture and industry as an integral part of “the good life”. In many western societies alcohol is not only accepted but celebrated, the line between acceptable drinking behavior and alcoholism becoming blurry. Because of this culture, the efforts of James Ponsoldt’s heroine attempting to overcome her addiction, becomes all the more admirable.

In her late twenties Kate (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) is a frisky primary school teacher, happily married to Charlie (Aaron Paul) and an alcoholic. When she drunkenly smokes crack, she realises her favourite pastime has turned from funny to scary. However because her husband is also an alcoholic, her struggle for sobriety puts strains on the marriage.

Smashed finds an honest, nuanced approach to a subject matter which is prone to appear declamatory. Rather than patronising the characters who were unfortunate as to become trapped in alcoholism, Kate is portrayed as an inspiring woman who finds the strength to take responsibility and deserves greatest respect. Winstead’s performance is unembarrassed and stripped off all vanity, inviting the audience to see the funny, strong-minded young woman, not the alcoholic. Smashed breaks through the black-and-white narrative that is too often exploited to simplify a problem that lies within society and not its individuals.