Still him

It is easy to get caught up in satisfying social media soundbites about discourses that deal with disease. Inspiring! Uplifting! Life-affirming! And, indeed, these obvious platitudes could be applied to Still, Michael J. Fox’s poignant documentary of his life with Parkinson’s disease.

But this is actually a documentary about the sudden and then continuous reality check of a lifelong condition. Michael J. Fox received his diagnosis in the early 1990s and this film reflects on over three decades of adjustment – seen through the literal lens of Fox’s cinematic and television oeuvre, along with his unflinching descriptions.

All the while, the audience wrestles with the irony of Michael J. Fox, time traveller, being struck down by a disease he was powerless to alter. Yes, there is real pathos in this film.

What really struck me, however, was how, once you had accepted the side effects of Parkinson’s, that initial shock is gradually erased and replaced by the sheer measure of Michael J. Fox’s character.

There is absolutely no doubt that it is the essence of the movie star that transcends his condition. He is not defined by the disease but, rather, the quick wittedness that made him such a compelling screen presence in the first place.

The gift of this documentary is also in its ability to highlight ‘health’ as the great leveller among humankind. No one is immune to the earthquake of life-altering illness, no matter who you are. This is the most unforgettable narrative of the story. It is clear proof about the randomness of the human condition, but it is also evidence that willpower is a formidable and underestimated ally.

One of the key lessons we can all learn from this film is reconciliation. On a daily basis Michael J. Fox comes to terms with his situation – the relentlessness of communication challenges, physiotherapy and campaigning. And then there’s the onslaught of bangs, crashes and comedic stumbles, which he describes with the elan that perhaps only a film star can.

The documentary also focuses on the fundamental themes of love and commitment. No one can endure a lifelong condition alone. In the case of Michael J. Fox, he has the fortress of support from wife – the actress Tracy Pollan whom he met on the set of Family Ties nearly 40 years ago.

It’s really striking to note how they navigate the Parkinson’s terrain with a lightness of touch rather than bitterness. This is the equinox of coming to terms with an existential crisis and you can’t fail to be impressed.

The ritualistic taking of pharmaceuticals is, of course, an aspect of Michael J. Fox’s life on which he continuously relies. When he takes his treatments, he talks about ‘waiting on the bus’ before feeling his true self being ‘poured back into his body’. It’s a truly electrifying reminder to pharma about why it exists.

In the final analysis, this is never a film about pity, it’s about possibilities – even in the most impossible circumstances. It’s also a really reassuring case study on what it is to be cool. Michael J. Fox is still cool. He’s still cooler than me and he’s still cooler than you. And that’s something we have to deal with.

Ultimately, Still is a profound reminder that, while we cannot turn back the clock – we cannot change the path of time – we can make a positive difference to the future.