When Love Is Not Enough: The Lois Wilson Story (2010)
When Love Is Not Enough: The Lois Wilson Story Photos
Movie Info
Winona Ryder stars as Lois Wilson, co-founder of Al-Anon and wife of Alcoholics Anonymous co-founder Bill Wilson (Barry Pepper), in this biopic centered on the rocky relationship between the two people who dedicated their lives to helping others who suffer from alcohol addiction. College graduate Lois Burnham was spending the summer in Vermont when she first met her future husband Bill. Teenage sweethearts, the paid married in 1918, just before Bill went overseas to fight in World War I. Lois worked as an occupational therapist while Bill was in Europe, and upon his return the couple tried unsuccessfully to start a family. It was during this time that Bill began drinking more than usual, but after landing a job at a local financial firm the hard-working veteran landed a high-paying job as a Wall Street securities analyst in 1927. For a while the couple was financially secure, and Lois tried repeatedly to help Bill to get his drinking under control. But it was all for naught; eventually Bill's alcoholism would cost him his job, his home, and nearly his relationship with Lois. It wasn't until Bill met Dr. Bob Smith, another recovering alcoholic, that he found the strength to finally sober up. Meanwhile, Lois was devastated by the fact that all of her own efforts to help Bill had ended in failure. After connecting with the wives of Alcoholics Anonymous members, however, Lois finally found her calling, founding Al-Anon in 1951 in order to help the family members of alcoholics build a functional support system for their loved ones.
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Cast
Winona Ryder
as Lois Wilson
as Lois Wilson
Barry Pepper
as Ben Wilson
as Ben Wilson
John Bourgeois
as Clark Burnham
as Clark Burnham
Rosemary Dunsmore
as Matilda Burnham
as Matilda Burnham
Collette Micks
as Irene
as Irene
Ellen Dubin
as Dora
as Dora
Paul Popowich
as Rogers Burnham
as Rogers Burnham
Adam Greydon Reid
as Ebby Thatcher
as Ebby Thatcher
Sarah Manninen
as Elise Shaw
as Elise Shaw

Sarah Dodd
as Sue
as Sue
Lynne Griffin
as Annie Smith
as Annie Smith

Kristi Angus
as Anne Bingham
as Anne Bingham
Frank Moore
as Dr. Bob
as Dr. Bob

Peter Windrem
as Charlie
as Charlie

James Downing
as Wes
as Wes

Ann Turnbull
as Betty
as Betty

Carin Moffat
as Jean
as Jean
Brad Borbridge
as Physical Therapist
as Physical Therapist

Sabrina Grdevich
as Julia
as Julia
Rick Roberts
as Frank Shaw
as Frank Shaw
Kate Trotter
as Helen Griffiths
as Helen Griffiths

Kelli Fox
as Matron
as Matron

Ivan Sherry
as Clint
as Clint

Brent Crawford
as Doorman
as Doorman

Nancy Palk
as Joan
as Joan
Critic Reviews for When Love Is Not Enough: The Lois Wilson Story
All Critics (1) | Top Critics (1) | Fresh (0) | Rotten (1)
When Love Is Not Enough has some interesting moments, but ultimately flattens its characters in the interest of letting us know its commitment to its message is unambiguous.
January 13, 2021 | Full Review…

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