Rocketman

“A musical fantasy about the fantastical human story of Elton John's breakthrough years.” That is how this film is described on IMDB. But is so much more than that.

In the opening scene Elton John is at an AA meeting. “Hello my name is Elton Hercules John. And I am an alcoholic. And a cocain addict. And a sex addict. And a bulimic. And shopaholic with a problem with weed, prescription drugs and anger management.“ Then the film unfolds as he tells of how he ended up so broken. It is a film about addiction, childhood trauma and recovery.

This film shows Elton John’s disease progressing and alcohol and drugs becoming more and more important in his everyday life. At one point he sits having breakfast in a lovely room with his wife. She pours herself some orange juice and he pours himself some vodka into a lovely glass, apologises and they both cry.

The film shows the childhood trauma of not getting love and how this links to addiction. A father who was unavailable emotionally his entire life and a mother who just never said the things that he needed to hear.

But is also a film about Elton John’s amazing journey from shy pianist to a flamboyant superstar, and his path to recovery.