Is ‘Beautiful Boy’ a True Story: Timothée Chalamet’s Addiction Movie
“Beautiful Boy,” a 2018 film starring “Dune” actor Timothée Chalamet, is a faithful adaptation of the 2008 memoir of journalist David Sheff about the addiction struggles of his son Nic. While this is only one family’s tale of active addiction, it hit home with many other families who are going through or have gone through the same struggles. But is “Beautiful Boy” a true story — and what, if anything, was changed from the real story for the film adaptation?
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The True Story Behind ‘Beautiful Boy’
In 2008, journalist David Sheff wrote the heartwrenching memoir “Beautiful Boy: A Father’s Journey Through His Son’s Addiction,” the story of his son Nic and their family’s journey through active addiction. A decade later, his book was turned into a film directed by Felix Van Groeningen, which starred Steve Carell as David Sheff and Timothée Chalamet as Nic Sheff. The movie shows us a young Nic, who is every parent’s dream child, with good grades and overly achieving at all things, but the dark truth is that Nic is already living in active addiction, and we witness his downfall when he tries meth for the first time. David will stop at nothing to get his son back and healthy, while Nic thinks his father wants the “golden child” that he used to be back.
The Story of David and Nic Sheff
David Sheff’s 2008 memoir about his son going through active addiction is gut-wrenching, to say the least. His honesty about what it is like to be called in the early morning hours, not knowing if it was his son, the police, or worse, someone calling to tell him his son was dead, will hit you like a train. While he tells us his side of the story in “Beautiful Boy: A Father’s Journey Through His Son’s Addiction,” we also get to hear his son Nic’s side of living in active addiction in his memoir “Tweak.” Nic tells what it was like to take meth for the first time but also shares that he had already been experimenting with drugs and alcohol at the young age of 11. Both Nic and David tell us about the multiple times Nic went to rehab and got help with meth withdrawal but relapsed as soon as he got out. By the time both books were published, Nic had been sober for over two and a half years.
Timothée Chalamet’s Role as Nic Sheff
To help prepare for the role of Nic Sheff, Timothée Chalamet put his body through the wringer by losing 20 pounds. To help with research and insight into what it means to be an addict, he also attended Alcoholics Anonymous meetings and other addiction programs to hear first-hand accounts of what it might feel like to be in active addiction. Chalamet also spent a great amount of time with the real-life Nic Sheff, getting to know him and trying to channel who he was at the time of making the film and learning about his personal feelings while suffering from addiction.
Themes and Messages in ‘Beautiful Boy’
Perhaps one of the biggest themes throughout the movie is the complicated nature of trying to find someone or something to put the blame on for David’s son’s drug addiction. This is a scenario that a lot of families go through, trying to pinpoint a moment in time or even a person that they can point their finger at and say they are the reason for their son or daughter’s addiction. Another message that “Beautiful Boy” portrays is that addiction does not discriminate and can happen to anyone. When we think of addiction, we normally think of rundown houses, bad neighborhoods, and even a stereotype, but in reality, addiction doesn’t have a stereotype.
Throughout the movie, as well as in the book, David walks the fine line of being a supportive father and enabling his son’s addiction. This is another hard truth that many families go through as well. While we know that David helped Nic go to multiple addiction recovery centers, we also know that Nic would relapse as soon as he was done with those programs — walking that thin line between holding his child’s hand through active addiction and getting him help but also trying to let him “figure it out” by himself.
The Reality of Addiction Depicted in ‘Beautiful Boy’
So, let’s get to the big question: Is “Beautiful Boy” a true story? Unlike many “based on a true story” movies adapted from books, “Beautiful Boy” accurately represents David and Nic’s experiences while Nic is addicted. This is perhaps why the movie is so hard to watch for those who have gone through similar experiences. So, are there any notable differences between the movie adaptation and “Beautiful Boy: A Father’s Journey Through His Son’s Addiction” and “Tweak”? Yes, but not with anything that happens during the movie.
During the end credits, the audience is shown artwork that Nic Sheff journaled during his time in active addiction; his memoir “Tweak” is based on those journals. The truth is that his younger step-brother Jasper was the one to create the artwork for the film’s end credits. This is to show that the whole family is affected while one of the members is in active addiction, not just affecting the parents and their child, but that siblings are also greatly affected by addiction.
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The Importance of Telling Real Stories of Addiction
“Beautiful Boy,” while heartbreaking, is an important movie. It shows that addiction does not discriminate, and it (addiction) can happen to anyone. It also breaks the connection between someone struggling with addiction and how others perceive it, meaning that, for a family, everyone looks at addiction differently. This is also an important film for families to talk about what addiction is, the importance of not feeling guilt or shame around it, and that help will always be there for them if anyone finds themselves in that situation. The same can be said about opening the discussion about mental health conditions and the stigma behind them —, that mental health problems don’t discriminate, but help will always be there.
Support and Resources for Families Affected by Addiction
We’ve answered the big question — is “Beautiful Boy” a true story? — but the reality is millions of people in America can relate to the film’s portrayal of addiction and its devastating impacts on family members. While there are many different treatment programs, Resurgence Behavioral Health has multiple options for comprehensive addiction treatment programs. We have a medical detox program that offers a safe environment to get substances out of your system, as well as treatments designed to reduce the severity of withdrawal symptoms so that patients can detox in comfort. The residential treatment program is available for those who wish to start their recovery without distraction and gain tools to live a successful, sober life. Outpatient addiction treatment programs are ideal for people who are transitioning from more intensive treatment plans. If you or a loved one needs help, we’re here for you. Contact us online or call us at 855-458-0050 today to get started.
