ARLINGTON, MA — The town's Prevention Services and the Arlington Police Department announced that they will host a free community screening of the documentary "Recovery City" in recognition of National Recovery Month.
The showing will take place on Wednesday, Sept. 23, at the Arlington High School Discourse Lab on 869 Massachusetts Ave. Doors will open at 6 p.m. with the film scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m. Admission is free, and the event is open to everyone.
The 96-minute documentary directed by Massachusetts filmmaker Lisa Olivieri follows four women in Worcester as they navigate addiction, recovery, stigma, and the impact that substance use can have on their community. The women featured in the movie are Christine, Bridget, Janis, and Rebecca, whose experiences include recovery, parenting, peer support, policing, and helping others access treatment.
"Recovery City is an intimate and powerful film that follows four women as they confront addiction, recovery, stigma, and the impact addiction has on their community," the police department said in a statement.
Janis is a retired Worcester police officer who served for 41 years and worked with the department's Crisis Intervention Team, including conducting post-overdose outreach alongside recovery coaches. She later became a certified recovery coach herself. Rebecca is also a certified addiction recovery coach and recovery coach supervisor, while Bridget has worked professionally in substance use treatment.
The film has received recognition since its release in 2024, including winning the Audience Award for Best Documentary Feature at the 2024 Provincetown International Film Festival. Quinsigamond Community College also reported that the documentary received the Audience Award for Best Documentary Feature at the 2024 GlobeDocs Film Festival. The film later aired through PBS's WORLD Channel.
The screening is part of Arlington Overcomes Addiction, an ongoing collaboration between Arlington Prevention Services and the Arlington Police Department aimed at addressing substance use and connecting community members with resources.
The event coincides with National Recovery Month, which has been observed each September since 1989. The nationwide observance highlights substance use treatment and recovery practices while recognizing people in recovery and the communities and service providers who support them.
Following the movie, attendees will be able to take part in a panel discussion with Olivieri and participants from the documentary. The discussion is scheduled to begin at 8 p.m.
"We hope you'll join us for an evening of education, conversation, and community as we continue working together to support recovery and reduce the stigma surrounding addiction," the police department said.
Registration is encouraged but not required to attend the free screening.
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