Candy (2006 film)

Candy is a 2006 Australian romantic drama film directed by Neil Armfield and adapted from Luke Davies' 1998 novel Candy: A Novel of Love and Addiction. The film stars Heath Ledger, Abbie Cornish, and Geoffrey Rush.

The film tells the story of Candy (Cornish) and Dan (Ledger), a young couple in Sydney who are deeply in love but also deeply addicted to heroin. Their relationship revolves around their drug use, initially romanticizing the highs and shared experiences, but gradually deteriorating as their addiction spirals out of control.

The film is structured in three parts, titled "Heaven," "Earth," and "Hell," representing the stages of their relationship and addiction. "Heaven" depicts the early, euphoric days of their drug use. "Earth" shows the challenges and compromises they face as their addiction intensifies. "Hell" portrays the devastating consequences of their addiction, leading to prostitution, theft, and ultimately, separation and attempts at recovery.

Geoffrey Rush plays Casper, a university professor and unconventional mentor to Dan, who often provides them with money and drugs, acting as a complex figure in their lives.

Candy explores themes of love, addiction, codependency, and the destructive nature of drug abuse. It received critical acclaim for its raw and unflinching portrayal of addiction, as well as the performances of Ledger and Cornish.