In the Same Breath

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In the Same Breath

2021

1h 40m

Documentary

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Popcornmeter

96%

Tomatometer

57 Reviews

84%

Popcornmeter

Fewer than 50 Ratings

IN THE SAME BREATH recounts the experiences of people on the ground in the earliest days of the novel coronavirus and the way two countries dealt with its initial spread, from the first days of the outbreak in Wuhan to its rampage across the United States. Directed with a deeply personal approach by Wang, who was born in China and now lives in the United States, the film explores the early confusion and parallel campaigns by authorities to try to contain the virus as well as shape the public narrative through misinformation, resulting in a devastating impact on citizens of both countries.

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Critics Consensus

Gripping and clear-eyed, In the Same Breath captures history as it's being written -- and governmental failures as they amplify worldwide tragedy.

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Brian Lowry

CNN.com

08/18/2021

In some respects, In the Same Breath leaves behind as many questions as it answers, but the director's lens and those of her collaborators remain as unflinching as they are sobering.

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Manohla Dargis

New York Times

08/18/2021

This is a story that envelops all of us, and it is devastating.

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Justin Chang

Los Angeles Times

08/12/2021

At the simplest level, the stories of trauma and loss told in "In the Same Breath" exist as a necessary corrective.

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LaNeysha Campbell

But Why Tho?

01/16/2023

10/10

In the Same Breath offers a personal and unfiltered look at the earliest days of the outbreak in Wuhan.

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Ricardo De Querol

El Pais (Spain)

12/05/2022

With first-rate footage, [Nanfu Wang] pieces together a tough narrative that contrasts official propaganda with the harsh reality happening in hospitals. [Full review in Spanish]

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Ema Sasic

Next Best Picture

06/21/2022

8/10

Wang's film will weigh heavy on viewers as they relive those fearful first few months of the pandemic, but it will also remind them of the great strides made with the development of several vaccines and therapeutics.

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David H

08/23/2021

There is a very good presentation of the Chinese Communist Party's efforts to initially conceal the menace of the COVID-19 virus, then to take credit for a victory over it while concealing the true number of deaths resulting from overwhelmed hospitals. There is also a very good presentation of U.S. national-state-local local governments' efforts to initially conceal the menace of the COVID-19 virus. However the presentation in the final minutes of the views of U.S. COVID-19-deniers isn't tied into the previous presentations it doesn't _explain_ why the views of these people _might_ be a reaction to previous governmental lies.

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Facebook U

08/20/2021

Chilling tale of what happened and how it could have been different.

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Avindu G

@RT86379654 07/02/2023

The concealment the suppression amidst a health crisis is what's wrong globally with systems we follow. Political ideologies becomes masks for a common authoritative governing that keeps people in an illusion as long as it's affordable. In the same breath is a truly magnificent production that documents two distinctively different systems are actually carbon copies of failure. Wide range of participants that makes a harrowing exposure of the COVID's rampage. Great visuals that would shake the illusions of normalcy. Excellent critique of disaster politics. Intelligent us me of audio highlighting every point that's spoken by Nanfu Wang. Must Watch !!

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06/28/2022

I am glad to have such a film to record these precious visual materials.

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Leyton M

@RT61614482 03/10/2022

Such a powerful documentary. Incredibly well documented and I encourage people to watch it. To see so many perspectives and narratives of the people who suffered and experienced difficult times during this pandemic.

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10/25/2021

Not sure you can call it a documentary when it picks and chooses what facts it presents. But maybe a little interesting.

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Nanfu Wang

Director

Christopher Clements

Producer

Carolyn Hepburn

Producer

Sara Rodriguez

Producer

Nanfu Wang

Producer

Jialing Zhang

Producer

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Synopsis

IN THE SAME BREATH recounts the experiences of people on the ground in the earliest days of the novel coronavirus and the way two countries dealt with its initial spread, from the first days of the outbreak in Wuhan to its rampage across the United States. Directed with a deeply personal approach by Wang, who was born in China and now lives in the United States, the film explores the early confusion and parallel campaigns by authorities to try to contain the virus as well as shape the public narrative through misinformation, resulting in a devastating impact on citizens of both countries.

Director: Nanfu Wang
Producer: Christopher Clements, Carolyn Hepburn, Sara Rodriguez, Nanfu Wang, Jialing Zhang
Production Co: Little Horse Crossing the River, Cinetic Media, Motto Pictures, HBO Documentary Films, Little Lantern Company
Genre: Documentary
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 18, 2021
Runtime: 1h 40m