Leon

BY: Georgia Davis

Seeing a therapist often carries a stigma. People around you may question if you need it. For black men in America, mental health issues are often dismissed as an unnecessary commodity. But in less than 15 minutes of the film Leon, its title cahracter Leon Ford, who was shot in an unjust case of mistaken identity, convinces us to assess any trauma we’ve experienced and to take healing into our own hands.

The gripping portrait from director Jackson Tisi follows Pittsburgh resident Leon Ford, who narrates the short film. From a young age, he was active in basketball and boxing. The latter is where his talents were. But when Pittsburgh police pulled him over, mistaking him for Lamont Ford, the officers roughed him up and shot him. In one of the most compelling segments, a Leon stand-in boxes and each punch is interwoven with dashcam footage of the horrific, life-changing  event. There’s a big twist midway through the video that we won’t spoil, but it really shapes the narrative for the rest of the film. 

At the heart of it all is Ford’s sessions with his therapist. He confesses how much trauma he experienced throughout his life. Now, he leads support groups for other young black men. Ford’s objective is to help them open up and help pave a positive way for future generations. Leon’s vulnerability is beautiful, making the 15 minutes seem way too short.

Leon ends with a beautiful quote: “Seeing a therapist is one of the most courageous things I’ve ever done in my life. I chose to heal me; you should choose to heal you.”

This emotional short will grab your heart. Watch it here on PROVOKR, now.