I don't really think the point was anything that tangible..
Certainly the mother blamed the Dr (and maybe Ben's friends) and Doctors do sometimes behave pretty irresponsible in this regard but I don't really think that Ben blamed anyone but himself. Not in the end.
But the mother's response was a typical mother who's still loving her son despite everything, seeing all the traps that made it so easy for him to give in to, but still holding on..
I understand the families lack of trust after all they'd been through and halfway suspected Ben as not being sincere when he first turned up.
But, as it turned out, he had been.
As another poster suggested (and I agree) I do think that Ben was revisiting the things that had triggered him to go the route he had and was testing himself ...and almost making it..
But not quite... with nearly devastating consequences.
I never had a son that was an addict...but I had a partner that was so I'm well acquainted with all the lying and conning and stealing and the horrible things they can put you through.
It's tough to overcome for everyone even if all the support and love is there.
It's still never easy.
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skatterbrane (42)
6 years ago
I was an addict, myself, but once I realize it, I quickly decided I didn't want to be. My pain management doctor added Oxycontin to my Percocet that wasn't holding me long enough on my pain. I didn't want that crap in my life, so I quit - cold turkey. Longest month of my life and I did it with a newly filled prescription of Oxy in my purse.
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bohemianroxie (2478)
6 years ago
Good for you..that you had the foresight and strength to recognize what was happening.
I was able to do the same with drinking although it took several years of dealing with my own stupidity to get tired enough of being ashamed enough to just stop..The biggest catch for me was I had to stop bartending.
But my partner wasn't so lucky and I understand it's not so easy for everyone.
He loved crack..
He went from being a wonderful person with so much potential to a person that lied about literally everything. I had to have rituals to hide my money as he would steal everything down to the last nickel..
He pawned everything I had of value and sold everything down to my dead fathers Cadillac... and forget grandmas jewelry or anything that I might have had sentimental feelings about. He seemed to enjoy making those things disappear. He also had bouts of insane violence either toward me or just taking a hammer and putting a hole in the wall or throwing the coffee table out the front door.
I stayed too long because of his daughter and some animals I was fostering. But after all that was taking care of I was gone with the wind.... Although I still tried to help him afterward and got screwed again.
But I had the choice to leave.
Families have a much harder time trying to figure out how to handle the devil that takes over their loved ones. Hearing about repeated trips to rehab and relapses are common and it's hellish. for them..
The mothers micromanagement of Ben in this film seemed the wisest option even if circumstance waylaid both the mother and Ben's mostly honorable intentions.
I still find the film hopeful.
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