Heroin(e)

“I will help them if I think I can make it better.” This quote comes from Nick Toti, a graduate of Truman who came and spoke to our Writing as Critical Thinking class. He is a pursuing a career in film out in Los Angeles, and spoke to our class about his journey and the morals and visions that he has developed along the way. One of his ideas is “I will help them if I think I can make it better”. This is a vision that many people share, especially those who devote their life to healthcare and community service. A Netflix original documentary, Heroin(e), fully embodies Nick’s idea. It follows three women in Huntington, West Virginia, who are dealing with the heroin and drug crisis in their city. Each of them does their job to the fullest, while simultaneously going above and beyond the job description. One of these individuals who follows Nick’s philosophy exceptionally well is the deputy chief of the Fire Department, Jan Rader. She tirelessly works to moderate the heroin and opiate issue their city is facing.

Nick’s quote “I will help them if I think I can make it better” is references the way he aims to play a supporting role to be able to help those he works closely with. His thought is aimed at helping others succeed, so they ultimately can finish their project, and if necessary in the future, assist Nick when he is in need of help. The women give to others without expecting anything in return, the idea is still applicable to the attitude the three women have in their community.

The documentary is shot up close and personal, like an interview. It shows the raw emotions of these strong women, and the way their are influencing their community and every life they touch. Most of the camera shots are bouncy, not always smooth and sway to different people, mimicking the turning of a head so it feels like you are there in the room with them. Additionally, the perspectives are mainly shot from the passenger seat of the car with them while they are talking, giving it a deeply personal feel and allowing the women to talk about more of the emotional aspects without making direct eye contact. Throughout the entire documentary no eye contact is made with the camera at all, potentially showing that while the people are doing well at working with people, however are still affected emotionally by this issue. When the fire department responds to an overdose at a gas station, the camera is back behind a row of candy, similar to your perspective if you were there in person. This assists in making the overdoses and emergency situations dynamic and serious. Additionally, some identities of users are concealed with the camera. They either stand out of shot, or the shot is dark, only capturing their silhouette. This added dose of security makes it seem like a bigger production than a documentary, while also piquing your interest about their identity and what their end situation is. I would have liked to see more of a finale to the documentary. The deputy chief was promoted at the end, but other than that it left you hanging about the people you met throughout. However, this probably was the best choice, as with life, there is not really an ending to a story, and may also relate to the opportunity of people being able to change their life.