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My Name Was Bette: The Life and Death of an Alcoholic

  • 20112011
  • 59m
IMDb RATING
7.0/10
227
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
My Name Was Bette: The Life and Death of an Alcoholic (2011)
Official film trailer for My Name Was Bette: The Life and Death of an Alcoholic.
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  • Documentary

A documentary about women's alcoholism chronicles the progression of the disease in Bette VandenAkker-a nurse, wife, and mother-who died in the fall of 2007. Filmmakers Sherri VandenAkker-Be... Read allA documentary about women's alcoholism chronicles the progression of the disease in Bette VandenAkker-a nurse, wife, and mother-who died in the fall of 2007. Filmmakers Sherri VandenAkker-Bette's daughter-and Josh WE Hays employ interviews, family photographs, medical records, an... Read allA documentary about women's alcoholism chronicles the progression of the disease in Bette VandenAkker-a nurse, wife, and mother-who died in the fall of 2007. Filmmakers Sherri VandenAkker-Bette's daughter-and Josh WE Hays employ interviews, family photographs, medical records, and court documents to provide a personal and detailed look at the physical, emotional, and ... Read all

IMDb RATING
7.0/10
227
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Sherri L. VandenAkker
  • Writer
    • Sherri L. VandenAkker
Top credits
  • Director
    • Sherri L. VandenAkker
  • Writer
    • Sherri L. VandenAkker
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 16User reviews
    • 1Critic review
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Videos1

    My Name Was Bette: The Life and Death of an Alcoholic
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    My Name Was Bette: The Life and Death of an Alcoholic

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    Storyline

    Edit
    A documentary about women's alcoholism chronicles the progression of the disease in Bette VandenAkker-a nurse, wife, and mother-who died in the fall of 2007. Filmmakers Sherri VandenAkker-Bette's daughter-and Josh WE Hays employ interviews, family photographs, medical records, and court documents to provide a personal and detailed look at the physical, emotional, and mental toll of alcoholism. The film examines women's risk factors for developing alcoholism and relapsing from sobriety; depicts the physiological damage women suffer from drinking, due in part to their hormones; and explores the stigma, guilt and shame the prevent women from seeking timely treatment. The film also offers hope to those affected by the disease who seek to heal their pain and strained relationships. —Anonymous
    • alcoholism
    • medical
    • sobriety
    • nurse
    • drinking
    • 24 more
    • Plot summary
    • Add synopsis
    • Genre
      • Documentary
    • Parents guide
      • Add content advisory

    Did you know

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    • Trivia
      "Best Feature Documentary: Honorable Mention" at the Massachusetts Independent Film Festival, Boston, MA (2012).

    User reviews16

    Review
    Top review
    10/10
    Such a wonderful film
    As a clinician who works on a daily basis with addicts struggling to stay in recovery, I found this film incredibly informative and moving. All of my clients have watched this film and it seems that they have learned a lot about alcoholism but also about the struggles that families endure while watching their addicted family member in the middle of their substance use.

    For me personally this film hit me head first. My own mother is a sever alcoholic and as I watched this film it was if I was watching the decline of my own mother.

    Thank you for sharing the story of your mother and the life she lived. Thank you for allowing yourself to feel that pain all over again and THANK YOU for allowing us, the viewers, be witness to your healing through the process. You are strong and so many can learn from you and this film.
    helpful•8
    0
    • senjimomma
    • May 10, 2013

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • March 23, 2011 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official sites
      • Official Facebook
      • Official site
    • Language
      • English
    • Filming locations
      • Whitinsville, Massachusetts, USA
    • Production companies
      • Kairos Productions
      • Unlikely Hero Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

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    • Budget
      • $10,750 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

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    • Runtime
      59 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1

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