Starting around 2008, a seedy chain of pain clinics sprang up in South Florida. Over-the-counter opioids were administered on a large scale. Users and dealers alike travel hundreds of miles to load their cargo. The pill factory was run by brothers Jeff and Chris George. Their desire to get rich quickly accelerated their operations.
The story of the Georges family is dynamically told in “American Pain” (in max), named with bitter irony after one of the clinics. Director Darren Foster frames the film almost as a profile, from the twins’ upbringing to the launch of their venture. In his interviews, his brother’s former colleagues, as well as the brothers themselves speaking on the phone from prison, speak frankly about the ingenuity of the business and the efficiency with which visitors come and go. Foster combined the testimony with footage of television news reporters and eventually footage of undercover missions by federal agents.
Jeff and Chris made millions in the midst of their suffering. Director Foster has a clear eye on this cruelty, but the film also enjoys the hilarious nature of the men’s adventures. A lot of time is spent on the funnier details of their operations, such as excessive drinking at work, money being carried in trash bags, and receptionists hired just for looks. Even a cursory glance reveals that the system that allowed the men to trade was broken. At the time, Florida’s laws were far too lax. And even as orders spiraled out of control, drug suppliers continued to ship pills for clinics.
The usefulness of intensive character studies of corrupt opioid central figures is questionable. But the documentary unfolds with plenty of style and charm.
pain in america
Unrated. Running time: 1 hour 46 minutes. Look at Max.
