UnLonely Film Festival 5

Union County

A young man in rural Ohio navigates a drug court recovery program

This film deals with addiction. Viewer discretion is advised.

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Consider This

Watch this video to explore the film’s meaning and major themes a bit more. Talking with others about a shared arts experience can enrich our perspectives. Share your thoughts in the comment section, below!

Meet the Filmmaker

What is their why?

“I wanted to explore the hope that can be found on the other side of addiction, pain and despair. There’s a resiliency to the human spirit that deserves more recognition. As I researched and immersed in the recovery community in Central Ohio (where I’m from), I recognized that the individual hope I was looking at was directly tied to the community of drug court participants and practitioners who could look to each other and say “I know exactly what you’re going through.” That kind of a community is fundamental and essential, no matter who you are. So I set out to understand the small, daily battles and victories at the heart of one man’s recovery journey, and to acknowledge the role that our peers, our relationships and our communities play.”

Adam Meeks is a Brooklyn-based filmmaker and graduate of NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts. His short film UNION COUNTY premiered in competition at the 70th Berlinale, and continued on to screen at the Champs-Élysées Film Festival, Palm Springs International ShortFest, Maryland Film Festival, and numerous others.

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Join the Conversation

We have all had to make difficult choices in our lives and draw on our inner strength. Can you think back to a time when you relied on your inner strength reserves to survive and remember what helped you in making your choices? Was there someone or something that you were able to lean on during this time?

Share your responses in the comment box below:

2 Comments

  1. Dave Bouvier

    Lost my only child at 37 in June 2018 from untreated depression/alcoholism. Just like Cody, we had to keep him away at times.

    Reply
  2. Paula Bretz Green

    Working as a Psychiatric Nurse, I’ve had empathy for so many of life’s worst scenarios. I’ve always felt I’m only 1 small step from experiences like them.
    Films such as this are more of what we all need, to try on someone else’s shoes.
    Thank you, for your work.
    Paula

    Reply

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