Movie Digest
This documentary places you in the heart of the Covid-19 pandemic. It captures the struggle of the patients and healthcare workers in Wuhan. It showed how a city of 11 million people came to a standstill.
The Feel-Good Part
This movie is a tribute to the healthcare workers and volunteers. It is touching as we see people stand together in this time of crisis. It is filled with raw emotions. The film crew took all the precautions and followed the instructions to a tee and set an example for the viewers. Despite the discomfort, the crew was very dedicated and even wore personal protective equipment for shooting.
The Disappointing Factor
While it is an admirable tribute, it is not very entertaining or emotionally engaging, except in a couple of scenes. The only reference to the dead is through a box of mobile phones which they use to track down the relatives. The documentary failed to highlight how serious the virus is. The documentary has been shot in a controlled state like China and the details can seem to glorify the government.
In-Depth Analysis
The movie has been shortlisted for the 92nd Academy Awards. It has won a Primetime Emmy Award. It has won four awards and has received eleven nominations. When the virus first broke out, Wuhan was the epicenter. It was under lockdown for 76 days. This is the first movie that extensively covers the pandemic that affected the whole world. This movie focuses on individual patients and their experiences as well. The movie is set in four different hospitals in Wuhan. While no outsiders were permitted to enter the hospitals, the hardest hit ones allowed reporters after being thoroughly vetted. The crew had to go through an extensive disinfecting procedure after every day’s filming. The documentary focused majorly on three patients- a couple anxious about their newborn child, an old fisherman suffering from dementia, and a young woman struggling with her father.
Star Power
It is directed by Weixi Chen and Hao Wu.
Overall Opinion
This movie presents the chaos and fears the first wave of Covid brought to the people who experienced it the first. They were confused and scared yet displayed immense courage. This film is a time capsule for future generations.
