Sarah T. - Portrait of a Teenage Alcoholic

The story unfolds across a suburban home where Sarah feels unseen, through the social milieu of a junior high/high school, at an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting that offers a refuge, and in hospital rooms after crises. These locations trace the arc from private loneliness to public consequences, highlighting how family dynamics and peer interactions shape her path. The mix of everyday domestic spaces with moments of institutional intervention underlines the clash between ordinary life and crisis.

🍷 Alcoholism

Sarah's drinking is the through-line that reveals her internal struggle and coping mechanisms for loneliness and family tension. The narrative follows a slippery progression from social drinking to daily use, illustrating how easily a teenager can slide from experimentation to dependency. The Alcoholics Anonymous meeting serves as a mirror where she confronts her patterns and the need for honesty.

🏠 Family Dysfunction

The home life is fractured by divorce and parental preoccupation with appearances rather than welfare. Jean and Jerry's relationship creates an unstable backdrop in which Sarah seeks security, only to feel more neglected and misunderstood. Conflicts at home amplify her risky behaviors as a misguided attempt to assert control.

🌱 Coming of Age

Sarah's experiences push her toward independence and self-definition, testing boundaries and social acceptance. She searches for belonging at school and in friendships, even when those routes lead to harm. The story traces her maturation through missteps, realizations, and moments of vulnerability amid growing autonomy.

⚠️ Consequences

The consequences accumulate: reckless actions on the street with the horse Daisy, strained family ties, and a crash that culminates in hospital care. The film shows how lies and evasions spiral into real danger for herself and others. The climax and aftermath force acknowledgment of addiction and the ache of broken trust.