Try

Jonas Åkerlund's short film Try (2000) is a graphic depiction of the lives of a homeless couple addicted to heroin. Åkerlund gives us a gritty vision of life on the drug that, in my opinion, is as disturbing as Requiem for a Dream (2000) and all other depictions of heroin use I have seen.

Despite having seen scores of graphic films there are moments in Try that I find difficult to watch. Throughout, it seems as if Åkerlund is being excessively graphic, not to enhance the narrative, but instead merely for shock value. I would not say the film changed my outlook on heroine or added to my knowledge of it. Still, how much character development can you expect in a 15 minute short?

Overall, Try is pretty well done. The ending gives me chills every time I watch it but the story itself is nothing spectacular. It can be found on The Smashing Pumpkins DVD: 1991 - 2000 Greatest Hits Video Collection.

When Billy Corgan and Jonas Akerland first came up with the idea of making a music video based on kids on heavy drugs but very much in love, who would've thought that they would've come up with something as moving and powerful as "Try" has turned out to be. The whole thing is definitely very much inspired by the Darren Aronofsky film "Requiem for a dream" where other young kids destroy their lives focusing on tomorrow and not recognising today. Having the girls untruly young voice narrate over the top of it without any real dialogue made the whole experience even more powerful for me as it seems like a genuinely nice person has messed up and ended up living on the street with nothing more than her boyfriend and her dreams. But i seem to find the love story within this film to be part of it's power. these two people are all each other has in the world and they stand by and protect each other and share every burden together no matter what happens. Therein lies the beauty of the film for me. you can't help but feel sorry for these people even though it is evident that it's there own fault that they've fallen so low and why they aren't getting out but you still feel an affinity with them and the hard life they lead which they just seem to take on the chin. This again makes the impact of the final scenes all the more powerful for me

I bought the Smashing Pumpkin's DVD 1991-2000 Greatest Hits Video Collection, and had found this short film in the "Extras" section.

This short film (which used segments for the Smashing Pumpkin's "Try, Try, Try" music video, from their last album, "Machina: The Machines of God")was overall quite disturbing, and yet, very powerful. Despite being short, much was accomplished in portraying the film's message. The images portrayed many of the physical darker images of the world in connection to the more psychological aspects, and there was much foreshadowing. I overall found these image very appropriate and contributed to the film's power. Despite the two characters fateless life of drugs, prostitution, stealing, and so on...you get quite an emotional feeling for the two, as they hang on to each others love to move through the torture they go through.

And even aside those disturbing images, the film ends in a very cold fashion that didn't use any harsh images at all.

NOTE--THIS IS A VERY ADULT FILM. LETTING KIDS SEE THIS FILM IS PROBABLY NOT A GOOD IDEA, THOUGH VIEWING IT WITH AND DISCUSSING THE FILM WITH TEENS MIGHT BE.

This film is about a couple drug addicts who live on the street. However, oddly, instead of a traditional film about homelessness and addiction, the female lead narrates in a bizarre style that is the exact opposite of what you see on film. For example, she talks on and on at the beginning of the film about how great her life is and how things are getting better--but in reality her life simply can't get much worse. Only later in the film does the narration become a bit more depressing, but by the incredibly gut-wrenching conclusion, it once again is happy and looking to a brighter tomorrow.

This is an incredibly depressing and horrible film to watch. I would imagine that many who do see it will probably find themselves crying or choking back tears, as the film makers did a fantastic job of telling the story. From purely a technical viewpoint as well as its ability to convey a story, this is a brilliant film.

However, be forewarned, it is a very, very tough film and one I don't recommend to kids. Perhaps, though, this WOULD be a great film to show addicts and especially casual users who think drugs can be purely recreational--I can't imagine a better and more sobering wake up call!

Final verdict--brilliant but horrible.

I found it a bit disturbing, but I thought it was really good. Basically it explores the dreams of a young homeless woman and her views on life and the world around her. To say the least, it was thought-provoking. I was especially drawn to one sequence near the end that juxtaposes various images of modern materialistic culture and the hidden ugliness hiding behind the glamor of typical suburban life. Overall, it presents a rather bleak message; however, it is definately worth at least one viewing.