Swansea Love Story
VICE befriends a gang of young addicts caught up in South Wales’ largely ignored heroin epidemic.
The intimate look into their lives shows how economic depression, family breakdown, and addiction create unbreakable cycles for the people in their grip.
In 2009, Swansea drug agencies reported a 180 percent rise in heroin use, and it’s visible on the city’s streets.
Early one morning we meet a young, homeless couple named Amy and Cornelius in a city centre alley. As heroin-addicted alcoholics, they're smack in the middle of two of South Wales’s most ever-present epidemics.
The makers of Swansea Love Story describe it as a "funny and sad, heart warming and heart breaking" look at the real lives of those featured.
Warning: explicit language, drug use, mild violence, and mild sexual situations
I can't believe that comments are so negative. Why not have human compassion for others? Seriously these are real people with real families
@ivorytowerone (however, as this doc came out long ago, the comment I'm replying to is probably quite old and the OP won't probably see it, but I just want to reply in case someone comes across it) I'm sorry to say, you're completely mistaken about the nature of English dialects. I suppose before I start, I should describe my details here so as to help qualify what I'm about to write - I have a BA English, an MA in Curriculum and Instruction specializing in Teaching English as a Second/Foreign Language, a Colorado State Teaching License with a ESL endorsement and over 10 years English teaching experience (6 years at the university level in Japan) Oh, and I also come from "across the pond" and am a speaker of Western American English Dialect :)
Ok, here goes... It is in fact true that all dialects are valid. Rather than looking at English as something that exists as a singular thing, it's better to consider it more as a conceptual thing. It's much like actual physical tables VS. the *idea* of a table. There are many kinds of tables that exhibit different properties, but they all have the quality of "tableness". The conceptual table doesn't actually exist except as a concept to refer back to when thinking about tables. The same goes for English. English does not exist as a pure form, but only as an intangible concept. However, there are many kinds of English that do exist. These dialects differ in many ways, sometimes drastically, and yet, they all share the quality of "Englishness". "Ebonics" (as you refer to it incorrectly, it's actually referred to as African American Vernacular, or AVE by linguists) is one of these dialects, as is the Welsh dialect found in Swansea spoken by the subjects in the film. All English dialects are "regular" meaning they have their own rules and standardized forms that their speakers rely upon to make themselves intelligible to other speakers of the same dialect. In other words, you can write a grammar book for African American Vernacular English (and people have done!). And yes, you'll be happy to hear that I agree that the form of English you speak is a "standard" form as you say (it probably being either Western American, Midland American, or Inland Northern American English depending on where you're from) and is a completely valid form of English (which might come as a disappointment to hear for any number of speakers of British dialects of English... yes, American Englishes are also English!) but a dialect of English is only "standard" in the region it's commonly spoken in and among the speakers who speak it. Therefore, ivorytowerone, if you happen to travel to, say, Scotland, you would find suddenly that your dialect of English is no longer standard... in that *specific* context, though it remains a valid form of English where you live. The issue that arises that I think you're pointing to, but are incorrectly assessing, is the matter of status. Dialects in any given region will commonly be seen as deviant or "incorrect" if they hold lower status in society. This is indeed a problem when a person who speaks a lower-status dialect has to, for example, interview for a job where their dialect is regarded with disdain by the interviewer, and therefore might very well hinder them in getting the job. It doesn't take much imagination to see how this becomes a problem when applied to a variety of situations where the perception of a lower-status dialect by a speaker of a high-status dialect comes into play. Discrimination, conscious or unconscious, is often the result. Some people who work with such issues recommend that people of lower-status dialects learn to become proficient in a higher-status dialect, and then switch back and forth between their dialect and the higher-status dialect as needed (prominent educator Lisa Delpit argues this position). Others view this as essentially asking marginalized groups to genuflect to to whites and is therefore continuing to insult their dignity (though there are many lower-status dialects spoken in America by whites as well, e.g. - Appalachian English). They would like to "normalize" lower-status dialects in society so that the stigma against lower-status dialects disappears altogether (the effect on the BBC is one notable example of this kind of thinking. It used to be that the BBC radio announcers used to speak solely in "Received Pronunciation" which was commonly thought of as "proper English" at that time despite being spoken by a minority of speakers, but now BBC announcers come from a diverse number of dialect backgrounds. This is not by accident, this is intentional on the BBC's part). I personally don't know what the solution is, I typically go with whatever is most practical and expedient, but one this is for certain, calling lower-status dialects "bad" as you have isn't helping the problem whatever solution you might prefer. Thanks for reading!
A psycho smashing people's toes off in drug-addicted Swansea. That's a good environment to live in, innit? Used to be a lot of good Christian influence in Wales, yeah? Not like that these days, mate.
I couldn't watch it all. I just felt it was gratuitous, shock value, and offering no hope or solutions. To me it was extraordinarily painful to watch a close up of a young man nodding out. Without putting such images into a context, it's just sort of nauseating.
Why don't they attack the people, the governments, and the system that's promoting the heroin trade? It's what imperial powers have been doing for centuries now. What's the point of this documentary?
i studied at Swansea. watching this brought back memories.. swansea is the graveyard of ambition and really is a place that rarely people leave. alcohol is a much bigger problem there.
I'm in the U.S.A. and just saw Swansea Love Story as a link below something else I was watching, which was completely unrelated. After I watched this docudrama I was left feeling helpless and so sad... I want to scoop up these people and help them some how and help them feel of worth. That poor girl who lost a baby and all the sexual and physical abuse - did she ever really stand a chance? All the drug use and abuse seemed to be a vicious cycle. I'm not even sure where it started. But I know it can be ended, but it would only come with a great deal of help and a great deal of will power. God bless! All those people are in my prayers...
Heroine especially is a dangerous **** to play with.
how sad to see this is the way some people live.
great doc.
the guy who said he took methadone (60mg) and then 2 subtutex ! obviously had no idea what he was doing.. that is why he got so sick! he could have died. The way to get on subutex is to lower your meth to about 15-20 mgs (the lower the better) then stop everything for a couple of days... and in withdrawal you take the subs and then it will fill the receptors and remove the sickness. Taking both at the same time will make you violently sick. (read what is does.. you cannot take opiates with subutex at the same time.
We didn't have these problems when opiates were legal and in every thing from cough to headache medicine.
RR
the thing with this docusoap was not one single word to address a serious problem in society not just swansea..And while im at it the father of the main 2 characters is nothing but disgusting ..how he has the temmerity to blame his kids for their addictions after he had them running drugs all over swansea from 12yrs of age..hes not fit to keep a dog nvm a family.. i wish this docu had used its time to really delve into this scurge on society as a whole but instead we spend 104 mins watching the same few faces sayin the same thing ..i was an addicyt for 28yrs and been clean only 7 yrs but im paying for it now,...they have no idea how much of the devil is in this drug..to think you vcan stop in a cple of months rarely happens ..it takes ur body a month to betox for every year you used ..and then the health problems come to the fore..its a long long hard road but you have to start the first steps for yourself not ur wife ,family or friends etc ..its up to you to say enoughs enough..i truly hope at least some of these pooor kids make it thru,,but i fear for them too..GOOD LUCK ALL OF YOU AND I TRULY HOPE YOU ALL ACHIEVE YOUR DREAMS ..O'L
to the dicus team,why does an earlier post have to be vetted yet last post went straight up on site..can you please explain ur procedure to me ..thankyou O.L.
@ gloria ,it might come as a surprise but before you bring people down check ur facts plz..im not insulting you ok its just condoms have been free at every anti natal clinic ,drug centres ans other agencies since the eral;y 80s ....
i love the welsh people for their proudness of their country..then you see an id**t like the lads father blaming his girlfriend for his drug use..He forgets he had his son runnin drugs for him from 12yrs of age ..the man is a disgusting person who doesnt deserve the right to have a son and two daughters all on drugs because of him yet he blames his kids..ITS A FU**IN WELSH COP OUT..This doc hasnt done anything to get into the issues of the drug problems ..it should be called junkies in trouble and they think its only a few mnths treatment..it takes a month to detox for every year you used drugs ..i was an addict for 28yrs and i blame no-one but myself..been clean 7yrs now but it never leaves you...i hope those younger ones look back at this video ecery day and get off the drugs ..i wouldnt wish it on my worst enemy ..good luck for the long long road ahead ..
Im truly amazed at the idea of the Drug agency.. It's just like promoting safe sex. If you can't promote abstinence, why not give out condoms for free?
i live in Belfast,, i know the drug scene we do have party drugs such as, mdma pills, coke. Cannabis, acid,,, these come with there problems no doubt.. i do not like the presence of loyalist and republican paramilitary groups... but i thank them for not allowing heroin to hit the streets. its in dublin, glasgow, swansea and england. i hope my unborn children do not grow up in belfast with heroin.
also must be mentioned that the large increases in heroin use. is extremely convenient given that nato and american troops have been occupying afghanistan for over a decade. its not a war its the planned control of the middle east. and its resources including the lucrative poppy business..clear involvement.. nothing britain hasn't done before shipping opium from the far east in 1800s,,, the western governments are corrupt to the core
peace out from belfast
And thats the result of the fields The freedom forces guard by order supposedly so the taliban dont attack the farmers.What evil lurks behind the throne. Sorry state the advanced western countries are in. Yet its spreading like a man made virus.
Liberum arbitrium.
drugs infeset...they rot they destroy they hurt and constantly annoy forever until you start to DIE...all who grow all who produce all who pack all who distribute all who smuggile all who recieve all who break it up all who deal all who put it into their souls all seem lost all seem gone but those that sell it, remember this faith ...........revenge to you from the HUMAN RACE
drugs is not a swansea thing drugs is not a white or black thing drugs is not a poor or rich thing drugs is a death thing,drugs steals YOU
Just for the record folks, the word tigr, as used by zatarra is a racial slur on a par, and rhyming with, the word ni**er. So apologies if I sounded a little argumentative. It doesn't say much for his intelligence or insight that he would stoop to such m*ronic insults.
This is a human tragedy and should make us all realize just how lucky we are. What was even sadder was some of the comments written in response to the documentary. I know someone who fought and won their battle against heroin after several years of addiction. Every addict has their own story and their own journey. There but for the grace of God go all of us.
you see? thsi is what happens when society gets rid of the natural easy-prey killers. thsi kind of sub-humans flourish and propagate. Why does the state ever spends a dime on these idiotized sub-normal animals?
Killing these should not be consider crime, but a favor. for them and for the rest of society. Spend resources in small children and small students. spend a dime in a growing direction. not in these sub-humans unless they demand it. and unless they recover.
Junkies are human beings also. I dont think anyone should look at them and judge them, its no business of theirs for a start and really they will never know why they are on the stuff in the first place. If its anyway like the reasons whay some started to take it in this film then I have all the more empathy for them.
"Any fool can criticize, condemn, and complain but it takes character and self control to be understanding and forgiving"