Santos, Patricia Marie D.

MMA 101

Addicts’ Symphony – The Recovered Drug Abusers’ Orchestra

The Addicts’ Symphony, a documentary by Only Human consists of 10 drug

addicts that are on the recovery stage with different backstories while trying to get back
on their feet with their specialized instrument or talent to join the London Symphony
Orchestra for a full performance. Jules was a great violinist in Britain but suffered from
anxiety due to her teacher degrading her during her past life. She indulged herself with
the alcohol that she almost lost her life, but she became sober and haven’t played for a
decade. Marco, on the other hand, speaks about how he hasn’t touched a violin in 30
years. Andy, a percussionist, had problems with relapsing which makes his 14-year-old
daughter have trust issues against him. Rachael, the cellist, had a severe anxiety over
notes which lead to her seeing black spots around and collapsing. This is due to her
addiction to alcohol.
The composer, James McConnell is also a recovering drug addict, made up the
concept of “the addicts’ orchestra” due to the reason that he wants to help others
recover well from the addiction, and he thinks that playing an instrument and be inclined
with the music are one of the ways that would help them recover. The background of
this idea was from his own son that died from heroin overdose at a very young age of
18 years old.
Watching the documentary itself has struck me so much because of how these
people went through with their lives. Some of them had experiences with relapsing
because of their anxiety kicking in, or sometimes, a very urge to fight off the stress and
frustration that they’ve been getting. Because each one of them said that they went
through addiction for “temporary relief”, but little they know that doing so would crash
their dreams and passions as the talented musicians. I also feel sad for the composer
itself because of how he and his wife tried everything to save their son, but eventually
he took his own life by heroin. Because he wasn’t able to save his son, his goal is to
save others. And he took the time to make them realize that they could make something
great other than just letting themselves be incapacitated with something that lasts for
short period of time.
My realization for this documentary is: Even if facing your fears makes you feel
vulnerable, you have to be strong enough to conquer everything. Everyone in this world
would always seek for perpetual happiness or joy, but sometimes, we won’t be able to
experience the kind of joy that we crave for. Someone would always do something to
make themselves feel better, but others, it is a bad way of relieving oneself. Not only it
can cause harm on our physical terms, but it also causes harm on our life path.
Everything will be lost; we wouldn’t know which way to go anymore because all we
cared was how to make ourselves be happy… and it’s inevitable. People have reasons
as why they did such a thing that we know of, is against the will. Sometimes, it’s just the
sacrifice itself that we throw ourselves away for something that would crash us in the
end. So that’s why it’s important to be aware of the things that could do us harm or not.
Nonetheless, I’m very proud of these recovering addicts that they also push themselves
to change and have a new start in their lives again.