Oregon Documentary 'Finding Normal' to be Shown for Human Services Program's 40th Anniversary

Oregonian film critic Shawn Levy praised “Finding Normal” in his review of the film, grading it an A-minus and calling it “incredibly engrossing.”

From the 'Finding Normal' Facebook page

(SALEM) - A special screening of a documentary highlighting the battles in recovering from drug addiction will highlight a 40th anniversary celebration of Chemeketa Community College’s Human Services program.

“Finding Normal” will be shown at 6 p.m. Friday, April 5th, in the auditorium (Building 6) at the college’s main campus in Salem. After the screening, the film’s director/producer, Brian Lindstrom, and David Fitzgerald, who is a recovery mentor featured in the film, will hold an open discussion with the audience.

Tickets to the screening are $5 and can be purchased at the door on in advance at the campus bookstore in Building 1 on the Salem Campus. Ticket proceeds will go to the George Buttles Memorial Scholarship, which is awarded annually to a second-year Chemeketa student enrolled in the Human Services program. Due to language and content, the film is not recommended for children.

In “Finding Normal”, Lindstrom spent five months in 2006 following recovering addicts as they left prison or detox and tried to rebuild their lives. It profiles the relationships between the recovering addicts and their mentors from the Central City Concern Recovery Mentor program in Portland.

Oregonian film critic Shawn Levy praised “Finding Normal” in his review of the film, grading it an A-minus and calling it “incredibly engrossing.”

“Lindstrom puts us in a place that’s rarely comfortable but is never anything less than real, meaningful and true,” Levy wrote.

In addition to celebrating the Human Service’s program 40th anniversary, the event will also recognize Donna Hirt, who is retiring from the program this June after 25 years at Chemeketa.