Clean and Sober

Set in the late 1980s, the film captures the era’s cocaine surge and the rise of rehab culture. Corporate pressure, urban decay, and the growing prominence of 12-step programs shape the protagonist’s journey toward sobriety and accountability.

The story unfolds in a dense urban setting centered on Philadelphia, reflecting a blue-collar city grappling with drug issues in the 1980s. Core locations include a bustling real estate office, a rehabilitation facility, and AA meeting rooms that structure the protagonist's attempts at change. The city’s gritty neighborhoods and industrial outskirts provide a backdrop for the chaos and eventual renewal at the heart of the film.

💊 Addiction

The narrative centers on a descent into cocaine and alcohol dependency, showing how addiction destabilizes career, finances, and personal safety. The rehab arc presents recovery as a difficult, ongoing process rather than a quick fix. The film treats addiction as a disease that reshapes identity and choices.

🤝 Support & Community

A tough-but-caring rehab counselor and a seasoned sponsor illustrate the importance of guidance and accountability within the recovery framework. The 12-step milieu provides structure, while shared experience offers hope and a pathway to renewal.

💔 Relationships & Consequences

Romantic and codependent dynamics reveal how relationships can fuel or derail recovery. The characters’ interactions demonstrate the far-reaching consequences of addiction, including heartbreak and the limits of rescuing others.