Consumed by his addiction to alcohol, a man's existence in lockdown becomes a constant and painful struggle. However, when a friend offers alcohol to anyone who can get to him through the police enforced quarantine, the man decides to venture out into the world to satiate his thirst.
The issue of dependency under lockdown is a rather under-discussed topic, and the sense of urgency in addressing addiction changes by country, further diluted within each municipality/community. Inherently, addiction is a mental health issue and legal highs such as nicotine, caffeine and alcohol put a large part of the population in a difficult position. Consequently, items that were previously available suddenly became restricted, and in some cases the idea of dependency on these items was brushed aside. In this regard, “Virus Mairus” plays off of a lesser discussed issue during the lockdown, making it stand out among the slew of Covid related films.
In taking on such a serious issue, and casting an actor who does a good job of portraying the ugliness behind withdrawal (both in physicality and personality), the production manages to inject some much needed levity to the situation. This comes from subtle, yet well timed, humor sprinkled throughout. This culminates in a conclusion that is both funny and perturbing, embodying the delicate balance between offering an alternative perspective and entertaining the viewer.
The visual and audio design also works to compliment the subject matter, with a black and white tone, dominating most of the film, that creates a somber tone reflective of the struggles faced. Additionally, the film contains creative camera work within confined spaces and sharp editing, which culminates in a wonderful flourish of color in the man's realization that alcohol can be found in household items. The sound design, although subtle, works well throughout the production, complimenting shifts in both mood and action. Overall, the production carries a strong visual and audio flair that works harmoniously with the narrative to create a memorable experience.
“Virus Marius” only shortcoming comes by way of external circumstances. However, the difficulty of filming during quarantine has become a challenge filmmakers across the globe have come face to face with, making restrictions more a comment than a critique of the end project. For a production filmed under extraordinary circumstances, “Virus Marius” embodies the creative spirit to be able to overcome a horrible situation by, oddly, shining light on how awful things can really get.
