COVID-19 has caused Dr. Peter Marcus (Timothy J. Cox), a therapist, to see his patients online rather than in person. He soon finds that the struggles of his patients are as big as ever, and his own mental health will quickly come into question. Live Health examines the realities of quarantine, mental health, and the state of our country in new and heartbreaking ways.
We’ve all been there and experienced the whole Coronavirus quarantine thing, and, frankly, I’m over it. But the fact of the matter is that the pandemic is a nexus event in human history and it’s unavoidable--and like other major events throughout the course of history, this experience has provided filmmakers a plethora of new content on which to focus. Filmmakers rejoice, as the time of recycled materials in the world of cinema can take a break, and new materials can be ushered in for the first time in what seems like forever. Sure, we’ve seen the films like Outbreak, or the popular shows such as Walking Dead, but mental health in the time of a pandemic has never played a more prominent role than it does today, and that’s what Live Health aims to bring to life. Even beyond the pandemic, mental health is something that is talked about more now than ever before, and cinema acts as a wonderful medium by which to tell the stories of individuals struggling with their mental hygiene. The human psyche, Coronavirus, quarantine, and human relations are nicely wrapped into something accessible and real in T. Cox and Jamie Cox’s incredibly relevant short film.
How do you accurately express the reality of everything that the world has just experienced without anyone questioning the validity of what you’re saying? First and foremost, find yourself a lead that can convey emotion with great aplomb and honesty--and that’s where T. Cox comes in. He’s genuine throughout the entirety of Live Health, and his appearance, mannerisms, and emotional state resonate with viewers from the opening seconds. There is something interesting about the way in which Cox and Cox approach Live Health, however, particularly in regard to the film’s lead. The conveyance of emotion comes primarily from how well Cox is able to express himself through his gestures and facial expressions, and far less from his dialogue--as he has very little. That almost complete absence of dialogue (from T. Cox) requires viewers to appreciate Dr. Marcus on a nearly molecular level. His words can’t fabricate the way in which he feels throughout the film, and viewers must accept the way in which he looks as truth--nothing more, nothing less. He’s captivating in his performance and nothing short of perfect.
The cinematography throughout Live Health is wonderful. COVID presented filmmakers with new hurdles to jump through, and I’ve found over the course of the past year or so that filming through Zoom, Google Meet, or some other video conferencing service is becoming more and more prominent in Hollywood. The decision to create a film that is required to be filmed using a Zoom-esque service makes the film feel all the more real. Viewers can further appreciate the things occurring throughout the film and all that Dr. Marcus experiences.
Through the simplicity of what the Cox’s offer viewers, those viewers are able to appreciate all that is said and done throughout Live Health. I’ve experienced the world through the lens on my laptop as I watched students helplessly struggle with assignments and assessments in their homes, away from the world and the helping hands of their friends--Live Health brings this sentiment to life. More than anything this film acts as a strongly sentimental reminder of the plights that each and every person faced throughout the course of quarantine, but each and every aspect of the film is done with purpose and honesty, and Live Health is exceptional as a result. Cox and Cox captured the true essence of the world in which we live and reminded their viewers that they are not alone.
Directed by Jamie Cox & Timothy J. Cox.
Written by Timothy J. Cox.
Starring Timothy J. Cox, Nancy Kellogg Gray, Matthew Harris, Becca Robinson, Bob Rutan, & Heidi Swarthout.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/10
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