ReelBob: ‘Clean Slate’ ★★★

By Bob Bloom

“Clean Slate” is a difficult movie to watch. Yet it is simultaneously uplifting.

The documentary follows to young men in a Southern drug recovery program who struggle with their addiction and mental issues.

They decide to make a short film about the pain they have caused, not only to themselves, but to their families.

The creation and filming of the movie is secondary to this documentary. The main focus is on the inner demons and temptations that Josh Litton, the cinematographer, and Cassidy Detmer, the director, experience while trying to bring their movie, “On the Fence,” from page to screen.

Producer-director Jared Callahan details in “Clean Slate” the various stresses and pressures that bedevil Josh and Cassidy and the strength they must exert to stay clean from day to day.

Not everyone succeeds; the two are residents at a recovery program that kicks you out if you relapse.

Cassidy and Josh use the movie as a project to keep busy so they have little time to reflect on the day-to-day strain of maintaining sobriety.

“Clean Slate” is very intimate and empathetic. It does not judge Cassidy, Josh or the others in recovery; it simply lets them tell their stories.

The making of “On the Fence” faces many difficulties, the most serious of which is Cassidy’s relapse and dismissal from the recovery home.

He moves back home with his family, trying again to kick drugs and return to his project — which, though not allowed back into the home — he is allowed to do.

Cassidy’s battle focuses on how difficult it is to stay sober as well as the impact of his setback on his friends and family.

At one point, Callahan asks Cassidy’s mother if she thinks the film project will help her son remain drug-free. She answers honestly — she doubts it.

Eventually, Josh and Cassidy finish their movie and screen it at an Atlanta film festival. You’d think Callahan would end the movie on this high note — but no.

A text card at the end of the movie reveals that not only did Josh relapse, but he pawned the recovery house’s film equipment to get drug money.

Yet the movie’s ending is hopeful as Josh is shown finally graduating from the recovery program.

“Clean Slate” candidly and unflinchingly details the terrible toll drugs take on people and those around them — as well as the will power and sheer determination needed to conquer those addictions.

I am a founding member of the Indiana Film Journalists Association. I review movies, 4K UHD, Blu-rays and DVDs for ReelBob (ReelBob.com), The Film Yap and other print and online publications. I can be reached by email at bobbloomjc@gmail.com. You also can follow me on Twitter @ReelBobBloom and on Facebook at ReelBob.com or the Indiana Film Journalists Association. My movie reviews also can be found at Rotten Tomatoes: www.rottentomatoes.com.

CLEAN SLATE
3 stars out of 4
Not rated, language, smoking