Created From Two Memoirs, BEAUTIFUL BOY Provides a New Perspective On Addiction
WDCB’s Gary Zidek talks to Felix Van Groeningen about his new film BEAUTIFUL BOY,
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“I really only take on projects that are super dear to me, because it’s an emotional journey. I really have to be ready to go in there, to dig deep, because for many years while I’m writing, directing, or editing, those are the feelings I constantly have to be (with)” - Felix Van Groeningen talking about what inspires him to take on a film.
Felix Van Groeningen, director of BEAUTIFUL BOY
The heartbreaking impact drug addiction can have on a family is on full display in the new film BEAUTIFUL BOY. The movie is based on two memoirs that came out a decade ago. David Sheff’s BEAUTIFUL BOY: A FATHER’S JOURNEY THROUGH HIS SON’S ADDICTION follows his family’s efforts to deal with his son’s drug addiction. That son, Nic Sheff, wrote his own memoir, TWEAK, about his descent into addiction and struggle to become sober. Together, the books provide a unique portrait of the effects drugs have on the user and the people who care about them.
The film melds the two perspectives into an emotionally powerful story that refuses to cast a villain or offer a final solution. Instead, BEAUTIFUL BOY focuses on portraying an authentic depiction of a family dealing with drug addiction. Starring Academy Award nominees Timothée Chalamet and Steve Carell, as the Nic and David Sheff, the film is among the most highly anticipated releases of the fall season.
Timothée Chalamet and Steve Carell in BEAUTIFUL BOY
The person tasked with making it all work on screen is Felix Van Groeningen. The Belgian filmmaker directed and co-wrote the adaptation. Van Groeningen’s thoughtful approach to a subject that’s often over-sensationalized, gives the story a fresh perspective.
Felix Van Groeningen and WDCB’s Gary Zidek
