Fifth about The Seventh

In the Same Breath

In the Same Breath: Nanfu Wang’s documentary about the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in Wuhan is powerful, not only because the world still lives under it, but also because those early days when information was so scarce, produced a seemingly endless flow of sad news. However, it also lacks some focus: it divides its attention between how the information was controlled (for mostly political reasons), probably worsening the situation, and the plight of frontline healthcare workers. Now, those are both worthy issues to look at, and they are interconnected, but as it spreads itself too thin, it weakens the whole. The director and her team of cameramen get access to many heartbreaking stories. Discounting the issues with the concept, the editors (Nanfu Wang herself and Michael Shade) weave efficiently the many threads, accompanied by a heartfelt narration by the director that gives the film a very personal feel.

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