Addiction Tales Drive "Silence" Film

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By Lisa E. Crowley
BrocktonPost
BROCKTON—One of the numerous things Noube Rateau, a Brockton High graduate and producer for Brockton Community Access, learned during the 6 to 8 months he and two other friends spent filming “Silence,” a documentary about drugs and addiction, was the people who escaped the cycle of addiction, mostly did it through education.
“It seemed like the best way to stay away from it or not get involved in it, is education,” Rateau said after the premiere of “Silence” held Tuesday night at Bridgewater State University, where Rateau graduated in 2006.
“Education always seemed to be the outlet,” Rateau said.
The documentary is filmed in Brockton and features Brockton residents from various walks-of-life who tell their stories, often heart-breaking, of their own addictions, or that of their parents, or other family or friends, and how it has affected their lives—-in essence, breaking the silence and stigma that is often attached to addiction.
“Silence,” not only deals with so-called gangster associated, street-level heroin, crack and methamphetamine, but also the scourge of alcohol and prescription pills.
One man, in his mid-20s, tells of his mother’s addiction and how he had to become father, brother and breadwinner to his siblings when he was 11-years-old.
A 20-something woman tells how a close male friend drugged her and then raped her in a horrible and humiliating fashion.
Larry Curtis, who ran for councilor-at-large in 2009, and his wife Peg share the harrows of their son’s addiction, the costs—emotional and financial--of numerous rehab attempts.
A man of the streets, Carly, who many would describe as a derelict, explains how he became an alcoholic and how he cannot live without booze.
“I wish I was dead,” Carly says in the film.
A convicted dealer who spent time in jail regrets his past, but argues if authorities and law enforcement actually wanted to win the drug war it would be over by now except that a lot of jobs and money are involved.
Frankly, anyone who sees the film will believe him.
Rateau, 22, who graduated from Brockton High in 2003, said the next step for the film is to lock-in other colleges and universities for more showings and hopes to have a schedule in January.
After the tours and showings, Rateau said the film will likely be shown on Brockton's cable access station, but in the meantime if anyone is interested in buying a copy of the DVD they can contact him by phone or email.(See below)
After Tuesday night's premiere, there was a question and answer session during which Rateau called for the more than 200 people to get involved in their community and pay attention to what’s happening in government because in the end any solutions come down to policy—government action.
At the very least, Rateau said, Brockton and other communities have elections Tuesday, Nov. 8 and people should learn who is on what side of the issues, and then:
“Go vote,” Rateau said.
To purchase "Silence," contact Rateau at 508-930-4458 or by email at noubevideo@gmail.com.