with 

Dr. Katharina Fackler, North American Studies Program, University of Bonn

 

In rural Ohio, the opioid crisis has left its mark on families, friendships, and entire communities. Union County, the debut feature of writer-director Adam Meeks, takes us into the heart of this reality — not through sensationalism, but through the people trying to find a way forward. Will Poulter stars as Cody Parsons, a recovering addict who, after serving time, is required to participate in a county drug court program. Alongside him is his foster brother Jack (Noah Centineo), whose own struggles with addiction make recovery anything but straightforward. As the two confront the consequences of their past and the difficult demands of staying clean, the film explores relapse, responsibility, and the possibility of starting over. What makes Union County particularly striking is the way fiction and reality intersect. Poulter and Centineo are joined by non-professional actors, including Annette Deao, who plays the recovery counselor Annette and who has worked within the real recovery court system. Many of those appearing in the film have lived through addiction themselves. The result is an unusually intimate portrait of a community confronting the opioid epidemic — and of the people working every day to rebuild their lives.

Union County premiered in the U.S. Dramatic Competition at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival, where it was nominated for the Grand Jury Prize. It has received a strong response from audiences and critics.

Following the screening, we will discuss the film's themes and look at the wider social realities in rural areas in the United States.

Dr. Katharina Fackler is an assistant professor in the North American Studies Program at the University of Bonn. She has published widely in the fields of visual culture studies and literary studies, focusing on topics including poverty and social justice, resource extraction and socio-ecological relations. Together with Nathalie Aghoro, she co-leads the DFG-funded research network "The Cultural Politics of Reconciliation." Her monograph Picturing the Poor: Photography and the Politics of Poverty in the 1960s (Penn State UP 2026) analyzes how different people and institutions--from Washington, DC to the Deep South to Appalachia--used the camera to negotiate the meaning of poverty in the United States.  

 

Seats are limited and will be allocated on a first come, first served basis. We kindly ask you to only reserve the number of tickets that you will definitely use.

You do not need to print out your Eventbrite ticket. The name under which you reserved your tickets will suffice to enter.

The venue is wheelchair accessible.

 

This event is kindly supported by the Federal Foreign Office.