02/24/2026
'When Love Is Not Enough: The Lois Wilson Story'' is a historically rich and psychologically layered film that sheds light on the lesser-known narrative behind the founding of one of the most impactful recovery movements in the world. ©Addiction Actually
The 2010 drama offers a compelling portrait of Lois Wilson, whose quiet but revolutionary role in addiction support history was long overshadowed by that of her husband, Bill Wilson, co-founder of Alcoholics Anonymous.
Spanning several decades of the 20th century, the film documents the rise of AA against the backdrop of Bill’s devastating alcoholism and ultimate recovery.
Yet rather than centering on Bill, this film focuses sharply on Lois—a woman whose identity and emotional well-being were gradually eroded by her husband's drinking and his all-consuming devotion to helping other alcoholics.
Through meticulous storytelling, the film explores the psychological toll of being the spouse of an addict: the self-sacrifice, codependency, confusion, and isolation that often go unspoken.
Lois, played with depth and vulnerability by Winona Ryder, begins as a supportive partner, full of hope and determination. But as Bill spirals deeper into addiction, their finances crumble, their social life deteriorates, and their emotional bond begins to fray. Even after Bill’s sobriety is secured, Lois is left wrestling with feelings of neglect and abandonment. She realizes that though Bill is no longer drinking, her pain has not disappeared—it has merely transformed.
