This is a great film. I first watched it back in high school, and it kept me engaged the entire way through. For being a lower budget film, the acting performances are solid all around. And you have a few veteran actors (James Hong) dropping in as well. The plot is well fleshed out, and represents the terrible reality of drug abuse.
Tom is a young paramedic who travels to the west coast to start a new job. But it becomes clear that he's also escaping a shameful part of his past. His partner Jimmy shows him the ropes of the career, and also helps him navigate his social life. Gradually, Jimmy's true nature comes out, and Tom gets sucked in to the same world of drug use. As Tom's life begins to fall apart, He also faces several ethical dilemmas, which force him to question himself and Jimmy. But can he do the right thing? And can he face the demons of his past, that he never truly confronted?
This films also accurately portrays the lies that addicts tell themselves and those around them. I've never been an addict myself, but I have it in my family. This film well shows how it's easy to lie to yourself, and then cross a line you didn't believe you would. But then cross another line, and rinse and repeat. It portrays how people WANT to believe in the good nature of their friends and/or family who are trapped in that world, and how far they will go to maintain that lie.
Broken Vessels is a very entertaining film. Very harrowing, very haunting. But I promise you won't be disappointed. It's just a shame that it's so hard to find. I can only ever watch it on the DVD that I bought years ago. It doesn't appear to be on any streaming platform. But if you get a hold of it, check it out.
Tom is a young paramedic who travels to the west coast to start a new job. But it becomes clear that he's also escaping a shameful part of his past. His partner Jimmy shows him the ropes of the career, and also helps him navigate his social life. Gradually, Jimmy's true nature comes out, and Tom gets sucked in to the same world of drug use. As Tom's life begins to fall apart, He also faces several ethical dilemmas, which force him to question himself and Jimmy. But can he do the right thing? And can he face the demons of his past, that he never truly confronted?
This films also accurately portrays the lies that addicts tell themselves and those around them. I've never been an addict myself, but I have it in my family. This film well shows how it's easy to lie to yourself, and then cross a line you didn't believe you would. But then cross another line, and rinse and repeat. It portrays how people WANT to believe in the good nature of their friends and/or family who are trapped in that world, and how far they will go to maintain that lie.
Broken Vessels is a very entertaining film. Very harrowing, very haunting. But I promise you won't be disappointed. It's just a shame that it's so hard to find. I can only ever watch it on the DVD that I bought years ago. It doesn't appear to be on any streaming platform. But if you get a hold of it, check it out.