Lipstick & Liquor

Plot Summary

Lipstick & Liquor explores the secret in the suburbs. A growing number of women are abusing alcohol and becoming alcohol dependent. Excessive alcohol use is the third leading cause of preventable death among women between the ages of 35 and 55. It is a contributing factor in one-third of suicides, one-fourth of accidental deaths and one-half of traffic deaths. The documentary begins with the haunting story of Julie Kroll, a 39-year old suburban mother from Woodbridge, Virginia. Julie went missing when she stumbled away from a minor car crash in the dead of winter, leaving behind her eight-year-old daughter. An open container of alcohol was in the car. While family and friends searched desperately, a seemingly indifferent police department and a blinding blizzard hampered attempts to find her. As the story develops, Lipstick & Liquor introduces us to four remarkable women who have faced their own battle with alcohol addiction. Each one has an amazing story that will resonate with viewers and, perhaps, touch other women who may recognize themselves in these heartfelt accounts. The hard work of recovery along with the gift of love, can provide inspiration and hope to countless women caught in alcohol's destructive web. As women take on increasingly more demanding roles, they are feeling greater pressures at work and home. Adding to their burden is the desperate need to be the perfect mother, the perfect wife and daughter, the perfect everything. Lipstick & Liquor seeks to shake off the stigma associated with women alcoholics and to provide understanding and insight into the struggle to stay sober. The documentary includes expert commentary from medical researchers, addiction specialists, and authors who shed light on the conditions impacting the increase in alcoholism among American women.