When Love Is Not Enough: The Lois Wilson Story

This program has already changed my life, and this movie solidified my faith in it.

Inspirational and heartbreaking story. DVD was in good shape and arrived promptly.

I was very anxious to see this movie. I wanted to see the bio on the woman who was there from the beginning of Alcoholics Anonymous. The wife of Bill Wilson, the co-founder of A.A. I also bought the movie MY NAME IS BILL W.. Both Movies show how A.A. , the program that saved millions from the depths of Alcoholism got started. This movie takes you through days and years of how the Alcoholic AND the family member suffered the disease of Alcoholism along side each other. The dedication Lois W. had to her husband and to their commitment to each other. As Bill W. dives to the bottom of his disease, Lois W. hangs on with all the Hope and Faith she can muster up to stand by her man, even when family and friends are saying 'Get Out Now!". She won't give up on Bill W. and then, through a spiritual experience, a miracle, Bill W. gets Sober. Even that part turns out to be a challenge to the marriage. It's one thing to live with a drunk and then to live with a drunk in Recovery, is two different worlds. The drunk world and the sober world, bringing the two worlds together - to help save others from the depths of alcoholism was the Purpose of this new found Program. One Alcoholic helping another Alcoholic through sharing their own Experiences, Strength and Hope with each other. At first Lois felt alot of mixed emotions about Bill W. new found sober world. A sober world she felt in competition with at times. His helping suffering Alcoholics wherever and whenever he could. Feeling left out. Till - She saw the Same Need for the Recovering family members as well. A Need to bridge the two worlds together for Their own understanding. She shared with the families her own Experiences, Strength and Hope and so the ALANON program was born. I am so grateful for her Courage and Strength, to overcome the years of suffering - to find her God Given Purpose. Using the same outline for recovery, used for the A.A. program. A.A and Alanon Programs brought together, Bringing Hope to many families in recovery to find Sobriety and Happiness together. Winona Ryder plays Lois Wilson, convincing in her role. Barry Pepper plays Bill W., so convincing as a suffering Bill W.. Movie depicts an enduring Love Story that helped Save millions of people around the world in the throws of Alcoholism. My name is Laura Mc. a Recovering Alcoholic and a very Grateful Member of ALANON. These Programs worked for Me, Saved My LIFE. I have a Happy, Joyous and Free Life today. They can work for You as Well. This Movie is a wonderful and Inspiring inlet for learning about these Life Saving Programs. The DVD is Great. Good color and sound.

I almost did not watch this movie. Content of Alcoholism might have struck at my emotions too deeply. However I did. To me, this was one of the most beautiful movies I have ever seen. The heart in the movie was what struck me. Both main actors did a great job. Nailed it! Painful to watch, Yes! But until the entire ugly truth gets out of a human struggling with addiction, nothing changes. I was encouraged and inspired. Actually the most painful part to me was seeing her go through miscarriages. I could identify with that. The addiction part also. I saw myself in that role and it does not end because you love someone, or you place your hand on a Bible or even pray. It takes a divine act of God. I know because both my Mom and Brother claimed the same thing when they quit drinking. However, yes: many trails of destructive emotions and broken relationships are left behind. The devotion and love these two had for each other was very touching. Each one with their own mental and emotional issues. Two broken people trying to keep their sanity in place. It made me think about the Ragamuffin movie made about Rich Mullins. Some other comments have been made about other movies being better. Each perspective adds a little more to the entire picture of the pain and destruction of addiction, whether alcoholism or any thing else that keeps our minds and hearts and bodies in bondage.I do not see this as a family movie. But many commented they have used it for their classes. So God bless them.

Love conquers every pain. Great story and great lessons to learn even for those not dealing with addiction. Lois Wilson has a lot to teach other women who are struggling with one thing or the other, thinking that their husbands are the worst or have the worst characters. All women need to watch and see what Lois had to put up with but was able to endure due to her true and unfailing love for her husband Bill. Lois prayed and prayed, and God finally answered her prayers. What a happy ending - she always wished for a happy life with Bill and she got it in the end. Genuine love coupled with prayers will pull down any mountain.

This past decade has not been good to Winona Ryder. I loved LOST SOULS (2000), but critics didn't. After that Ryder appeared in the dreadful AUTUMN IN NEW YORK, and there followed many awful indie films and unfunny comedies, with Ryder often cast in small roles as an unlikeable, nasty, or crazy woman (SEX AND DEATH 101, THE TEN, THE INFORMERS). Although THE PRIVATE LIVES OF PIPPA LEE was a decent film, once again, Ryder had a small role as the nasty Crazy Girl.WHEN LOVE IS NOT ENOUGH returns Ryder to her 1990s screen persona of a smart, strong, idealistic, independent yet devoted woman. Her Lois Wilson character in this film resembles Ryder characters from 1969, BRAM STOKER'S DRACULA, and LITTLE WOMEN.The story is engaging. I don't normally like these "disease of the week" films, but WHEN LOVE IS NOT ENOUGH maintained my interest, partially because it was based on a true story, its set decor effectively recreated its 1917-1950s period setting, and because the rest of the cast and crew also did a great job. (Although I mostly got this because I've been a Ryder fan ever since I saw LOST SOULS.)Ryder did a great job as a Crazy Girl in GIRL, INTERRUPTED, but since then she's been too often typecast as The Crazy. I've not seen BLACK SWAN (I normally wait for the DVD), but I hear Ryder plays another Crazy.I hope WHEN LOVE IS NOT ENOUGH, rather than BLACK SWAN, will inspire her future roles. I think most Ryder fans would prefer to see her in more of the former than the latter.

This video tells the story of LOIS WILSON, the wife of BILL W., who was a cofounder of AA.

This is a fine, made for t.v. film. One which made a world of difference to thosebattling the demon drink. Winona Ryder is exceptional here as the wife of a man overtaken by alcohol.In America during the depression a couples lives are severely tested. All becauseof a mans battle to beat the ravages of drink. His wife ( played by Ryder ) is tolerant and determined.But eventually even her love for her husband can not cope. She does not recognise the man shemarried anymore. The drink has turned him into a stranger. Aggressive, unreliable and squanderingall the money and material goods they possess. The road to sobriety is a long one, and love, as the title says, proves not to be enough. What is remarkable about this true story is what emerges from the couples struggles and fallfrom grace. In that the acclaimed ' Alchoholics Anonymous ' is formed. This vital association takesa long time to become recognised. But the AA is still now in 2019 a lifeline to many the world overwho have been hit hard by alcohol. This is a truly fine film. Beautifully written and acted with tenderness and empathy by the lead roles. A fine film.

Absolutely brilliant. Thoroughly enjoyed the film. Well acted.

Great film used in my work to support families of addicts. Highly recommend.

Winona Ryder gives an amazing performance as Lois Wilson, wife of Bill Wilson, one of the co-founders of the Alcoholics Anonymous program, and herself the founder of the Al-Anon program. The film begins with the courtship of the young couple, progressing through the development of Bill Wilson's alcoholism, his multiple attempts at addressing his condition, and ultimately to the story of his recovery and his founding of a program for others with the same affliction. We see all of this through the eyes of his spouse: how she first tries to help her husband, then tries to cope and support him through the misery that his alcoholism brings into their home. Ryder does an excellent job in portraying how the spouse of an alcoholic is affected and afflicted and how alcoholism really is a family illness. Winona Ryder's acting is magnificent as she conveys the emotional roller-coaster superbly. Barry Pepper also gives a very good portrayal of Bill Wilson and of his swings from a man promising to reform, only to return to the bottle time and time again before finding the answer to his dilemma.Those with first-hand experience with alcoholism, either personal or through a family member, will appreciate and enjoy this movie, and will empathize with the well-acted performances of the film's main characters. Others can expect an education and a moving experience. I especially recommend this film to anyone who is experiencing alcoholism in the home, without knowing where to go or what to do. This is an exceptional and under-rated film.

This is a very well acted movie for Winona Ryder and Barry Pepper. It is also a true story that gives hopefor the alcoholic as well as the non-alcoholic (alanon) with your Higher Power. Another movie, "My Name is Bill W."is a movie that talks more about beginnings of AA, whereas this one is more about the beginnings of Alanon.The main characters are different in each movie. Both are wonderful "real" movies.