Did The Pandemic End A Marriage?

Did The Pandemic End A Marriage?

Bruce Von Stiers

Most of us understand there was not a real upside to the recent pandemic. Most people weren't working at first. Essential products like toilet paper were hoarded or stolen. And relationships crumbled due to having to spend too much time together.

A direct result of couples having to spend too much time together during the pandemic was some of them getting a divorce. One short drama film takes an interesting look at marriages ending during the pandemic. The title of the film is Divorce During Pandemic.

The film opens with a man coming out of his house. He has a folder and a surgical mask in his hand. He sits down, apparently waiting for someone, and puts on the mask.

A car appears and a woman gets out. She's wearing a surgical mask as well. But she also has a clear facial shield. He has something to show her.

Well, the contents of the folder are divorce papers. The man is the husband, and the woman, his wife. Or more correctly, soon to be his former wife.

The film plays out where the two of them are cordial, even though this is usually a highly emotionally charged scenario. In the real world, this probably wouldn't be sedate as the film proposes.

David J. Phillips played the husband. He has over twenty screen credits as a producer and has appeared in films such as The Maestro and Eat Wheaties!

Laura Walker played the wife. She's played a nurse in a couple of films and portrayed Rosemary Clooney in another one. And, appropriately enough, she appeared in an episode of Find Love in the Time of Quarantine.

James Carey was the director and the film's executive producer. His directing credits include the sci-fi thriller, Alternate Endings, and the sweet romance short film, Come Walk With Me, which I recently reviewed. Carey has also acted in several films, including Iron Man 3 and Madly.

Shelby Janes was one of the producers. She was a line producer for Do You See Me and Escape Room and as an actor appeared in Stepmom From Hell and Runaway Princess Bride. Corbin Timbrook was the other producer. He has well over a hundred acting credits, fifteen screen credits as a director and over forty producer screen credits.

The cinematographer was Fernando Madero. He was also the cinematographer for the human trafficking film, Beyond The Neon.

Tal Anderson was the editor. She has edited numerous short films, including Breaking Normal and Polyphony. As an actor, she has appeared in two episodes of The Pitt, and appeared in a comedy/drama film I reviewed last year, Once More, Like Rain Man.

The film was produced by Attic Studios, which is James Carey's production company.

The film was showcased at numerous film festivals. Awards the film won during its festival run included Best Acting Duo at the Golden Reel International Film Festival and Best Writing at the Top Indie Film Awards.

Perhaps the reason the couple is so calm about the impending divorce is that all the fighting and hurt have been dispensed with. Or maybe, there might just be a glimmer of hope left for them. Both of them seem to want to say something yet stop short of doing so. Or, maybe, I was reading too much into the story, as I am a romantic at heart. Regardless, I think that this was an astute and well-acted film.

Divorce During Pandemic can be viewed for free on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qoitQ_bTwDw

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