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A small-town attorney takes on pharmaceutical giants as opioids devastate his community, on POV – September 22 at 10 pm


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POV

“The Bitter Pill”

Monday, September 22 at 10:00 pm

An evening scene shows a police officer walking between an police car and ambulance with flashing lights on a residential street.
Huntington WV Police Sgt. Robert Stinnet walks towards an EMS truck. Credit: Property of Redacted Media, LLC

In a powerful chronicle of justice, accountability, and resilience, “The Bitter Pill” follows the charismatic West Virginian plaintiff attorney Paul Farrell, Jr., as he wages a legal war against some of the world’s largest pharmaceutical companies in a landmark battle fueled by personal stakes.

“The Bitter Pill” is set in Farrell’s hometown, Cabell County, West Virginia, a community at the epicenter of America’s opioid epidemic, where 20% of babies are born addicted to opioids. Farrell is determined to recover damages, bring justice to his neighbors, and rebuild a community ravaged by corporate greed. As his groundbreaking legal strategy gains national attention, the case escalates into the largest civil litigation in U.S. history. Through courtroom drama and behind-the-scenes access, director Clay Tweel’s “The Bitter Pill” captures the human cost and high stakes of a community’s battle against systemic failure.

Two men and a woman in an office examine data charts. One man in a grey hoodie speaks passionately while looking through a large stack of papers on his lap.
Paul Farrell Jr, Pearl Robertson, and Mike Fuller work on the case in a hotel room. Credit: Property of Redacted Media, LLC

“From day one, Paul and I had the same desire for this film – to bring transparency and accountability to those responsible for the devastation of this epidemic,” said Clay Tweel, director, The Bitter Pill. “I hope that the film helps to shine a light on a part of the story that people might have overlooked.”

“”The Bitter Pill” is a reminder of the catastrophic opioid epidemic that has affected millions of Americans over the past few decades,” said Chris White, Executive Producer, POV. “Director Clay Tweel’s masterful account of Paul Farrell Jr.’s relentless quest to hold Big Pharma accountable underscores the urgent need for equitable access to care and systemic accountability to protect us all.”

Paul Farrell Jr, works at his computer wearing a white striped polo shirt, in a dimly lit office, focusing on work in front of him.
Paul Farrell Jr, works at his computer. Credit: Property of Redacted Media, LLC

The Bitter Pill made its world premiere at the Full Frame Documentary Film Festival (2024). It was also featured at the Virginia Film Festival (2024), where it won the Programmer’s Choice Award, DC/DOX (2024), Santa Barbara International Film Festival (2025), and Sidewalk Film Festival (2024).

The Bitter Pill is a Fifth Season, Impact Partners, and Parkside Films co-production. The director is Clay Tweel, and the producers are Shannon E. Riggs, Tim Grant, and Mary Rohlich. The cinematographer is Ben Joyner, and the editors are Giacomo Ambrosini and Clay Tweel. The composers are Dan Romer and John Zarcone. The executive producers are Dan Cogan, Jenny Raskin, Geralyn White Dreyfous, Nina Fialkow, David Fialkow, Barbara & Eric Dobkin, Debbie L. McLeod, Jim & Susan Swartz, and Erika Dilday and Chris White for American Documentary.

A white man wearing a grey t-shirt with a superhero-style "P" logo stands in front of a whiteboard covered in diagrams and numbers
Plaintiff lawyer Paul Farrell Jr. works at a whiteboard, breaking down what a settlement would look like for his community. Credit: Property of Redacted Media, LLC

‍The documentary will be available to stream until December 10, 2025 on PBS Passport, the PBS App, and the PBS YouTube Channel.

Now in its 38th season, POV continues to serve as America’s longest-running independent nonfiction series. POV is a multi-Emmy and Peabody Award-winning documentary series.