FOUR GOOD DAYS
US, 2021, 100 minutes, Colour.
Glenn Close, Mila Kunis, Stephen Root, Joshua Leonard.
Directed by Roderigo Garcia.
This is a strong film about drug addiction, heroin addiction and its consequences, for the individual, for the family, family relationships, desperation.
The title refers to the possibility of receiving a monthly injection which would gradually lessen the cravings and addiction. However, the addict has to be clean for four days for the drug to have its proper effect.
At the centre of the film, along with the issues of addiction, is a relationship between mother and daughter. There are excellent performances, completely persuasive, by Glenn Close as the mother and Mila Kunis as the addicted daughter. The background to the addiction is given when the daughter had a teenage ski accident was over prescribed, leading to the addiction, continuing over a period of 10 years, alienation from family, and a relationship between husband and two children.
The screenplay is very strong (though full of fairly crass language), a portrait of a complex mother, mistakes in the past, a broken marriage, an unexpected child, then another child, walking out on the marriage, marrying again. As played by Glenn Close, she is a convincingly complex mother, the good, the faults, the desperation, the hopes. The daughter, a fine performance from Mila Kunis, is seen only in the period of the four days before the injection. But, there is a finale…
The film is graphic at moments, the experience of drugs, the daughter sleeping outside all night and her mother refusing to let in, the later visit to the drug house and its interiors.
The film also shows the activities of receptionists, nurses, doctors, some exhibiting hostility, others kind – and some flareup moments where the mother is abusive to the staff.
Not intended as an easy entertainment. Rather, a solid drama with themes and performances, directed by Roderigo Garcia who had directed Glenn Close in Nine Lives, Things They are Saying About Her, and, especially, Albert Nobbs.
- The impact of the film? Desperation of addiction? Family relationships? Possibilities, hopes?
- The ordinary American setting, home, families, hospitals, drug centres, drug neighbourhoods and drug houses, interiors? The musical score? Oscar-nominated song?
- The situation, Molly and the ski accident, the doctor’s prescription, too much, development of addiction, 10 years, Molly leaving home, on the streets, no contact with her family, Deb, the past, tense marriage, pregnant, second pregnancy, leaving home to find herself? Relationship with her former husband? Molly and Chris, his support?
- The opening, Molly coming to the door, Deb and her anger, harshness, slamming the door, Molly sleeping outside, Deb giving her the hot drink? Taking her to rehab? The attitude of the attendant? The more sympathetic doctor? The possibility of the monthly injection and overcoming the addiction? Molly and her agreement? To be clean for four days?
- Molly at home, the room, Deb observing her, the torment of sleep, going to the garage, the neighbours looking in, the unfinished jigsaw puzzle, the alarm constantly ringing when the door opened? Chris and his offering support?
- The days passing, the ordeal of four days, Sean coming to visit, bringing the two children, the history of husband-and-wife, drugs? The bond with the children? Play? The computer game, the boy saying that Molly sucked, the apology? Going for the walk in the woods? Possibilities?
- Molly at home, the days passing, bored? The visit to the supermarket, Deb anxious?
- Molly wanting to go out, Deb’s reluctance, wanting to help the young addict, going to the drug house, Deb going in, her fears, the former boyfriend, reference to the pregnancy, Deb interrogating Molly, her not having an abortion, giving up the child? Deb anxious as grandmother? Molly, going up the street, Deb demanded she come in the car?
- Molly, the decision to leave, Deb anxious, the injection appointment coming closer, the phone calls, desperation, clashing with Chris, his saying he did not want to be her punching bag? Going to ex-husband, the hostile wife, the husband and his not taking the blame, challenging her about her past?
- Molly arriving, ready to go to the injection, but being out with friends and getting high, the challenge for Deb, the urine test, Deb giving her own? To the centre, the sympathetic doctor, the injection, feeling better, the immediate aftermath and pain?
- Four months later, Molly looking better, with Deb, the prospects?
- The metaphor of the jigsaw puzzle, left unfinished, Molly gradually working on it, the achievement, a beautiful picture, Deb present with the final pieces?
- The message of the film, graphic drama about drugs and addiction, family tensions, exasperation, hate and hopes, greater self-awareness, apologies? Some optimism in the film?
