#HOTDOCS: “STILL: A MICHAEL J. FOX STORY”

Review by Amanda Gilmore

No matter what generation you’re from, you know the name, Michael J. Fox. Director Davis Guggenheim delivers an incredible film, which is told as a Documentary through archived and scripted elements. It celebrates the charming, witty, and optimistic Fox’s extraordinary story in his own words.

Guggenheim follows two narrative storylines in STILL. In doing so, STILL is a Documentary that tells two stories about the same man. One tells the story of Fox’s rise, from being an undersized kid from Canada to becoming Hollywood’s ‘80s darling. The other tells the story of Fox living with Parkinson’s Disease.

The story of his rise in Hollywood is moving, however, it’s the struggle he’s overcome in accepting his diagnosis that is the true inspiration. Fox speaks candidly in his interviews with Guggenheim. He talks about attempting to hide and forget his diagnosis by becoming addicted to alcohol. When he finally embraced his new reality he was able to turn it into something good. Not only does he have the Michael J. Fox Foundation, but he’s also received roles that have allowed him to play characters with Parkinson’s (such as on The Good Wife), which in turn brings more awareness and understanding to the disease.

The editing by Michael Harte is a tremendous accomplishment. There’s extensive footage from Films, TV Shows, Interviews, and more that come together seamlessly and work poetically with Fox’s words. For example, Fox will tell a short story about a moment in his life and Harte has a scene from one of Fox’s films or series, which works perfectly with the story.

It’s important to note that this isn’t a film that goes in-depth about Parkinson’s Disease. It’s about Fox’s story and that happens to include a story about Parkinson’s. STILL will make you want to learn more about it once you leave the theatre.

STILL: A Michael J. Fox Story screens at Hot Docs ’23:

Mon, May 1 at 6:30PM at TIFF Bell Lightbox 1

Fri, May 5 at 6:30PM at TIFF Bell Lightbox 1

Sun, May 7 at 10AM at Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema