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Fix: The Story of an Addicted City

Released Sep 10, 2002 1h 0m Documentary List
Tomatometer 4 Reviews Popcornmeter Fewer than 50 Ratings
In this documentary, a group of Vancouver, British Columbia, activists, led by former computer salesman Dean Wilson, lead the charge to curb the city's drug problem and high HIV rate by opening North America's first safe-injection site. Surprisingly, they have the support of the city's conservative mayor, who wants to change Vancouver's image as a drug haven. The mayor's political peers, however, do not share his vision and will stop at nothing to derail these plans.

Critics Reviews

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Geoff Pevere Toronto Star As a portrait of an urban crisis and its political fallout, Wild's film does a consistently sensitive job of humanizing all players. Rated: 4/5 Oct 22, 2003 Full Review Rick Groen Globe and Mail [Wild] has returned home to find unrest in her own backyard, and leaves no doubt where her sympathies lie. To that end, bravely avoiding the crutch of voice-over narration, she sets out to dramatize the case, and engrossingly succeeds. Rated: 2.5/4 Oct 22, 2003 Full Review Mark Palermo The Coast (Halifax, Nova Scotia) Director Nettie Wild understands that empathy, for both sides of a conflict, is what creates complexity in art. May 5, 2004 Full Review Louis B. Hobson Jam! Movies Documentaries don't come much more brutal, candid or unsettling than Nettie Wild's Fix: The Story of an Addicted City. Rated: 4/5 Apr 3, 2004 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Audience Member Considering this was a low budget documentary (no external funds, I'm sure) they did an excellent job portraying reasons in support of opening Safe Injection Sites in Vancouver. With a mix of individuals involved movie was more portraying the side from individuals using/abusing substances that see many of their friends dying in result of overdoses or infections via injection. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/17/23 Full Review Audience Member We watched FIX and a movie made by some members of the Vancouver Police Department called "Through a Blue Lens". "FIX" is a documentary centering on the attempts for Vancouver addict Dean Wilson to reform, a vicious circle featuring small triumphs followed by demoralizing reversals, and the efforts of social activist Ann Livingston to create a safe house for addicts to use in. Local politicians, business interests, and police oppose her plan, and there are perspectives from both sides examined. [img]http://www.aidslaw.ca/Maincontent/otherdocs/NetworkNews/graphics/Mayor_Dean2%5B1%5D.jpg[/img] A very fascinating look at the process and the effects of decisions spanning two years. We have some experience with heroin and crack addicts, so we didn't find anything here shocking, but it still will open your eyes to reality of East Van drug life. [img]http://www.umanitoba.ca/outreach/cm/vol7/no5/throughabluelens.jpg[/img] [url="http://www.cbc.ca/news/national/magazine/blue/"] http://www.cbc.ca/news/national/magazine/blue/[/url] "Through a Blue Lens" is presented more as a "scare you straight" project for young teens, as the stark reality of street life is portrayed by officers patrolling with a handycam. Crediting the addicts that participate for their tremendous courage in sharing their stories in such a way, knowing well we would imagine that they will be held as examples of undesirable choices and distasteful personality, there is a lot of compassion shown by the participating police, and some very revealing statements by one gentlemen that speaks of learning to adjust his thinking towards law enforcement as he gained experience in the field. Cynics may say they do so only because of the camera, and we will never know for certain as viewers, but even the Blind Pariah feels these men are genuinely caring for the lost souls they see every day. Very powerful images and stories made this a very effective statement against hard drug use. We rate both movies together with 8. Do not expect fancy camerawork and artistic shots...whatever one thinks of these issues, there is no doubt the messages are meaningful. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/18/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Fix: The Story of an Addicted City

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Movie Info

Synopsis In this documentary, a group of Vancouver, British Columbia, activists, led by former computer salesman Dean Wilson, lead the charge to curb the city's drug problem and high HIV rate by opening North America's first safe-injection site. Surprisingly, they have the support of the city's conservative mayor, who wants to change Vancouver's image as a drug haven. The mayor's political peers, however, do not share his vision and will stop at nothing to derail these plans.
Director
Nettie Wild
Producer
Betsy Carson, Gary Marcuse, Nettie Wild
Genre
Documentary
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Sep 10, 2002, Original
Runtime
1h 0m