Quand l'amour ne suffit plus: l'histoire de Lois Wilson

I show this to my substance abuse group multiple times a year, and each time you can tell the effects of the alcoholism resonates with my group members. Story moves a little fast, some of the acting and dialogue is crunched-eyes inducing, but it's an effective story and movie.

"When Love Is Not Enough" is a film of a very specific style. That sort of style most commonly seen in films which consider the most effective way to depict a period drama is in mimicking the film-making style of said period. If you can swallow all the tear-jerking music and glossy cinematography, you will certainly appreciate the story better. But I found myself aching for a little bit more grittiness. Even much older alcoholic dramas such as "The Lost Weekend" or "Days of Wine and Roses" had a degree of emotional intensity not quite present here. Then again, this is a TV movie, and similar expectations are not necessarily in play.

Winona Ryder and Barry Pepper are two of my favorite actors. They don't disappoint here. Pepper (as Bill Wilson) is appropriately pathetic for the better half of the film, believably drunk and unhinged. Ryder (as Bill's wife, Lois) is given somewhat less to work with. Some of her dialogue during the more intense arguments is so wordy and roundabout that she seems tied between losing her breath and keeping a straight face. Both of which tend to get in the way of projecting emotion.

It's a good enough film. The story takes you through the events of Bill and Lois' married life, always without making you feel like it's arbitrary or scripted out. The unfortunate side is how John Kent Harrison doesn't offer anything at all outstanding with his direction. The look is flat, clean, ordinary. He sometimes uses off-kilter angles in the composition, which is always distracting and immediately makes one think of 1960s television shows. Harrison prevents the actors from pushing further than expected, and gives nothing but limitations to the production.

In the end, this is probably worth watching. The actors give enough guts and passion to make it worth your time. It's nothing to subvert even the lowest of expectations, but you get the sense that everyone tried their best. And that's commendable, even when their best is not enough.

When Love Is Not Enough: The Lois Wilson Story (2010) Director: John Kent Harrison First Watched: 4/22/25 6/10 Stars

AA origins, clunky, cliche Hallmark; but title's the truth- baby nor God can save you when alcohol's your true love.

#Tanka #PoemReview

The Tanka is tending poetry form with poems containing five lines. Each line has a set number of syllables, creating an overall syllabic pattern of 5-7-5-7-7. Tanka are divided into an upper phrase, containing the first three lines, and the lower phrase, which contains the last two lines. There are no meter or rhyming requirements attached to these poems.

This true story is amazing and should be seen by every struggling alcoholic and their families. Every minister and addiction counselor, and pastor should see this, and it should be in every church library. How Lois Wilson, co-dependent and living in a nightmare, rose from her dire circumstances and out of love for her husband, took the lead in healing him. She did this through inviting his alcoholic friends to their home - the opposite of what most women or parents would be inclined to do. One evening she discovered the wives, who had driven their husbands, parked out front, waiting for them,, and invited them in, to become friends and support for each other. I have no doubt Alcoholics Anonymous and Al-non are straight from God, and Lois Wilson was his servant who out of love for her husband, rose above her own desperate circumstances to help her husband and untold others The list of those who receive the benefit of her inspiration and work goes on and on ........! James Welch Henderson, Arkansas 3/16/2021

Sure, the story of Mr and Mrs Wilson is a very true one, so true that we can hear around us now and then. Before watching it, I never know the alcoholism can be so devastating and make the victim so helpless. And the depression adds insult to the injury, making their lives even down to the bottom. I had to watch this part with great uneasiness. This lasted until the very end, where everything seemed to be OK again. What can I say, exactly such an up and down makes a warm story about devoting love and faith.

I am impressed that Mr Wilson finally made it and, not only helped himself but also the others. But I am more impressed by his wife Lois, her devoting love and firm support to her husband, which, if I were in Mrs Wilson's shoes, would have divorced him at least three times over. Sure, this film is from her angle telling the story and understandably making her the closest entry point for the viewers. Nevertheless, her sweetness and forgiveness is never shadowed or shaded by this setting. One might wonder, who else can play Lois Wilson better than Ryder. I don't know how the real Lois looks like, but as long as the real story goes like the one in this film, the role will be tailored to Ryder. After all, I really can't think of another actress in Hollywood has a small share of Ryder's sweetness and shyness.