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When a Man Loves a Woman Essay

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When a Man Loves a Woman Essay
Heather T. LaRocque
ADC
Homework Assignment: When A Man Loves A Woman – Movie Essay & Thoughts
July 24, 2013
Denise Sullivan

The movie “When A Man Loves A Woman” is an extremely powerful reflective movie regarding the affects of drug addiction on an individual as well as the destruction of the family unit. I would have to say that this movie is one of my all-time favorite movies. Has been and always will be. From the moment I had seen the movie when it aired on the big screen in 1994. It was most pivotal at that time since I have dealt with an individual whom was an alcoholic. I cannot recall even to date how many times I have seen this movie but what I can state is that being an addict in recovery myself from alcohol addiction, each and every time I see this movie, a new outlook or concept is gained from seeing the movie. I used to think this may have been due to wearing “rose colored” glasses with regard to addiction. After re-thinking that thought, I would suffice to say that the reasoning behind the differences each time after viewing the movie, it would be due more to the fact that as I progress deeper into my own recovery time, I am learning and growing. I am beginning to understand the thinking and feelings of an alcoholic. I have had to get “real” with myself and others and the more I am able to practice that along with the twelve steps my thoughts will be broadened. It is extremely clear from the beginning of the movie that the family dynamic as a whole is struggling with the concept of feelings and showing emotion. The characters in the movie are Alice, her husband Michael and the children Jess and Casey and the nanny Amy. After viewing the movie again during class, the addiction issues as well as several psychological issues within the family are seen by me more openly. It runs the gamut of: hungry, angry, lonely, tired, as well as psychological such as: effects, denial, recognition and rehabilitation. The movie
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