Documentary unveils human face of crack addiction

In the documentary A Rock and a Hard Place, filmmaker Chantelle Evelyn of Plan A Productions confronts head-on the harsh realities of crack cocaine addiction, successfully amplifying the voices society often silences by humanising the faces behind this dependency.

It premiered last Wednesday night at Sweetfield Manor. The documentary, produced for the National Council on Substance Abuse (NCSA), offered an unfiltered, deeply personal look into the lives of several individuals battling substance dependency. The film goes beyond merely exposing the issue, but gives those living through it the dignity of being seen, challenging viewers to rethink not only what addiction looks like, but to reevaluate how they choose to respond. Armed with nothing more than a cell phone, Evelyn stepped into their world to capture their truth, favouring raw authenticity over polished aesthetics

The audience was immersed in candid testimonies of trauma, addiction, and resilience. Among the many arresting moments was entertainer Bruce Chandler’s account of his descent from the heights of fame as a performer to multiple stints in rehab and prison. Chandler, who described a joyful childhood, spoke with striking self-awareness about the choices that led him down a darker path and his ongoing struggle to claw his way back.

By allowing participants to narrate their own journeys, Evelyn shifts the focus from judgment to understanding. Their vulnerability is not exploited, it is embraced.

Evelyn explained her childhood curiosity about addicts’ backstories fuelled her desire to do this project. “I was really excited to be able to tackle this subject matter as I enjoy walking the road less trod and this road included walking into drug holes, meeting dealers, meeting users, meeting pimps, meeting prostitutes. For me it was a dream come true.”

Following the screening, a fireside chat delved deeper into the themes explored in the film. Alison Gotip, director of Clinical Services of Marina and Verdun House, emphasised, “In order for us to build capacity, each organisation, each agency, each individual has to know how to listen and listen without judgment, because addiction is no respecter of persons.”

Deputy Prime Minister Santia Bradshaw, who was in attendance, said, “You must see people because all of these people that we see on this film, they have a story to tell. They have a family, they have people that have cared about them and struggled with them, but they have a story. You can see the hurt I think that is in each and everyone’s faces as they tell the stories.”

Bradshaw challenged the current approach to drug education. “There is no point taking a hands-off approach and waiting until they hit sixth form and get out of school to have these engagements and this conversation. It has to begin at the earliest age,” she cautioned.

Lauding Evelyn’s approach to the documentary, Home Affairs and Information Minister Wilfred Abrahams said, “Your humanisation, Chantelle, is perhaps the most effective vehicle I have ever seen for conveying a message,” noting that the film stripped away stereotypes to reveal the shared humanity behind addiction.

“The point is their story is no different from any of ours, all of us have a dream. All of us are where we are, at whatever stage in our lives, but it is only one wrong decision away from toppling off that cliff.”

Abrahams appealed, “Anyone who knows that they exert an influence over the most vulnerable needs to put up their hands and say, in the event that you have nobody else to turn to, talk to me,” he urged.

A Rock and a Hard Place will be available on both the Plan A and NCSA YouTube channels and will also be aired on CBC. Additionally, screenings are planned for schools and various stakeholder groups. 

Evelyn stated, “Wherever there is a need and where people are willing to watch and engage with the content, [it] will be available.” (STT)