“In the Same Breath” arrives as a relevant documentary offering a view into how COVID-19 spread so rapidly. Filmmaker Nanfu Wang points out errors made by officials at the beginning of the pandemic, and also examines the propaganda used in both China and the United States. Wang started collecting forbidden social media posts and videos from people living in Wuhan, trying to preserve as many as possible. She incorporates much of this material into the film, providing a look at what it was like to live under quarantine orders. The most compelling sections of the movie are based on accounts from Chinese citizens, including secretly recorded footage taken inside hospitals. There are numerous distressing stories about families who were unable to receive necessary medical care, and those who tried to expose deception—including how leaders minimized COVID-related deaths by tens of thousands, if not more, and left people to die in public spaces—were arrested or even vanished. Wang presents a sharp criticism of the government’s handling of the pandemic, and she doesn't avoid drawing comparisons between President Xi Jinping and President Donald Trump, both of whom attempted to conceal the seriousness of the outbreak. Both leaders contributed to the confusion by deliberately spreading false information, acting with significant incompetence, and likely causing hundreds of thousands of deaths. The documentary also considers the American issue of widespread misunderstanding, particularly among those who reject masks. Wang shows footage of misguided protests in the U.S., but doesn’t fault the people who believe COVID is a fabrication. She feels sorry for them, suggesting their actions are due to misinformation and fear stemming from sources that should be trustworthy. A particularly impactful portion of the film explores the long-term emotional toll on healthcare workers—those on the front lines who had to witness so much death and sorrow. Many of the nurses Wang speaks with become visibly upset during their interviews. It’s deeply saddening to see how much these individuals have sacrificed for the public's well-being. “In the Same Breath” is a thoughtfully made film about an event that has impacted people everywhere. Looking back, it’s easier to recognize troubling trends in coordinated disinformation efforts, but it was the outright falsehoods used to protect those in power that truly harmed populations worldwide.

Source on TMDB