Social Realism Themes Explored - Alcohol

Alcohol, as a theme, often features alongside themes such as drugs. The ideas and struggles of alcohol addiction/abuse, as well as the consequences of intoxication, are often explored within Social Realism films. Unlike The Hangover (2009), which is a Comedy film using the common effect of amnesia which alcohol stereotypically has to provide humour, a socially realistic film would more likely look at an individual's struggles against the addiction, or may display their negative experiences with an abusive member of their family who drinks substantially. These kinds of real-world problems are atypical of Social Realism productions, as it opens a window into the life of working class people in these conditions.

The clip below, from Smashed (2012), shows the main character Kate's first experience at an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting, and shows her sharing her feelings for the first time. This kind of scene would certainly fit well into a Social Realism film about alcohol abuse, and would most likely show the progression through the addiction, and the eventual recovery (or death) of the character.