Cert: TBA
88 mins
BBFC advice: TBA
Almost 14 years ago to the day, my sister-in-law died.
She was in her late 30s and she suffered from acute alcoholism. She left a son in his teens and one who was just seven years old.
Her behaviour had been erratic for years. One day she would be charming and very funny but the next she would be loud, angry and out of control.
I confess that, while I certainly didn't wish her dead, I thought that she brought her problems on herself and in the latter years I didn't want her in our house because we were bringing up two young children of our own.
It didn't really occur to me that she had no control over her own destiny and that her alcoholism should have been treated as an illness that science proves it was.
Until now.
The Anonymous People made me think again of how I and others viewed my sister-in-law.
Greg D Williams' film puts forward the suggestion that we should look at those with alcoholism and drug addiction in the same way that we do those with cancer.
It proffers the case that long-term care of addicts should be undertaken by the state and that people should be proud enough of their recovery to feel confident to tell their stories.
Alongside contemporary first-person anecdotes, it chronicles the history of the Alcoholics' Anonymous movement and many of those who have done exemplary work in pushing the disease on the political agenda.
It is a very powerful film which endeavours to sweep away prejudice and gives clear reasoning as to why treatment would benefit society more than prosecution.
It will help any family touched by addiction to re-evaluate their thinking and, hopefully, influence those who have not been.
Laughs: none
Jumps: none
Vomit: none
Nudity: none
Overall rating: 8/10