Contagion
The 2011 Steven Soderbergh - directed thrillerContagionunintentionally take in traction in the other months of 2020 , due to the escalate global pandemic of the " novel coronavirus disease 2019 " or COVID-19 . The film ’s near - to - exact portrayal of the hike of a contagious virus and its social effects closely think over the alarming daily headline .
Because of this , it is no wonder thatContagionhas timeless elements and themes that resonated to this very day . However , there are aspect of the moving-picture show that felt dated as well . To research this topic , here are 5 reason why the film is out front of its time , and 5 other reasons that it maturate mischievously .
Didn’t Age Well: Too Much Emphasis in the US
Throughout the movie , there are four major plotlines that hap . One is Mitch ( Matt Damon ) having to deal with the death of his wife Beth ( Gwyneth Paltrow ) and his whole tone - boy by being overly - strict with his daughter , Jory . Two is the CDC handling the virus , with Dr. Cheever ( Laurence Fishburne ) and Dr. Mears ( Kate Winslet ) leading the inquiry . Three is confederacy theorist Alan Krumwiede ( Jude Law ) poking holes in the CDC ’s actions . And four is Dr. Orantes ' ( Marion Cotillard ) research about how the computer virus pass around from Hong Kong .
These plotlines are for the most part centre on the USA , making the " global pandemic " seem like it ’s only touch Americans and their nation .
Ahead of Its Time: Hyperlink Cinema
witness how the plotlines are thread together shows howSteven Soderberghstill has the chop for creating multi - narrative films that he had famously implemented inTrafficand theOcean’strilogy . It works well for a celluloid that needs to depict the shock of a pandemic on different classes .
For every plot line , there is a sense of importunity and imminent threat that fix each grapheme ’s shift surroundings . And when the inevitable happens , it create a domino burden of pressure , passed on from one character to another .
Didn’t Age Well: Use of Placebos
While Soderbergh tried his best to make a scientifically exact depiction of a virus ' spread , he stretched the scientific discipline for striking outcome . One of his exaggerations involves the World Health Organization using placebos posed as vaccinations , in central for a kidnapped functionary .
Placebos are definitionally inert and have no therapeutical value beyond their psychological event . They tend to be monish by medical professionals . The WHO using placebos for a sting military operation feel like a stretchability , even in a oeuvre of fabrication , and is unethical . It just experience out of position .
Ahead of Its Time: The Spread of the Virus
Contagionresonated with audiences during the global COV19 pandemic , due to its law of similarity to the ongoing crisis . That fall from the film ’s delineation of the virus ’s biologic origin and its eventual scatter . The banquet is facilitated by soupcon , as traced by Dr. Leonora Orantes , and is pass down from one someone after another in Hong Kong at a nimble tempo .
The film presents variations of the computer virus , urge by the SARS and flu pandemic . The escalating severeness drastically impact class and cripple social norm . Throughout , one thing is clean : every person is vulnerable to disease .
Didn’t Age Well: Print Propaganda
The plotline centering on conspiracy theoristAlan Krumwiedeinvolves him questioning the CDC ’s believability . Krumwiede almost gets leveraging when he challenge Dr. Cheever on transparency . He takes it as an chance to not only damage the representation but to elevate an alternate cure , made from forsythia .
Because of this , Krumwiede ’s celebrity spike , and anti - CDC photographic print propaganda spreads . While anti - government propaganda is impendent for any crisis , the use of circular , posters , and appurtenance are not pragmatic in the Information Age . Also , the propaganda storyline led nowhere , making for spoilt written material as well as antiquated methodological analysis .
Ahead of Its Time: Conspiracy Theories
But go forward on Krumwiede ’s information - manipulating crusade , he keep tabs on the CDC ’s findings and twisted several facts to disavow public information . The eccentric was inspired by various conspiracy idealogue who not only seem during crisis but plan to profit from them . In this case , Krumwiede promoted a homeopathic cure made from forsythia flowers .
To up the ante for his character reference ’s narrative , he was arrested by the FBI for confederacy and securities fraud , but was free right away . Homeland Security official Dennis French stated that there are many others like him . This is turning out to be very true in 2020 as well .
Didn’t Age Well: Inconsistent Depiction of Quarantine Measures
While the film accurately represent the lifespan of a far-flung virus in an participating society , Contagiongives dispel glimpse of how the quality deal with hard-and-fast quarantine measures . The character ofMitchis a witness to the computer virus ’s impact on middle - class citizens on their quotidian routines , from casual watching to total lockdown .
In the midst of these problems , he got to observe quarantine procedures after his married woman ’s infection . But many of his equal do not seem to discover the basic pandemic direction , infected or not . It ’s a miss opportunity to draw strict quarantine measures realistically .
Ahead of Its Time: Mass Hysteria
Yet , mass hysterical neurosis is a spectacular element in the film . Like the computer virus , the societal anxiety present has its own lifespan , starting from several recipients of the computer virus ’ general shock ( which , in this character , is centered onDr . Cheever ’s patch involving his fiancé ) . When the news hits several medium release , regardless of their credibility , aggregated hysteria ensues .
The film shows this via looting throughout Chicago , a riot during the distribution of relief goodness , and heavy dealings over a state borderline checkpoint . The distribution of vaccinum through drawing by birthdate is a result of irrepressible crowds and terror .
Didn’t Age Well: Portrayal of China
Despite the fact that several well - known diseases have rise in mainland China , it is pretty on - the - nose , especially at this moment , to have the film ’s computer virus commence in Hong Kong and spread onto the mainland .
Worse is the depiction of Formosan officials as oblique , uncongenial , and shady . This was manifested inDr . Orantes ’ storyline where he is sent to Hong Kong to construct the spread of the computer virus by Beth but is used as bait by her Hong Kong counterpart Sun Feng for forced delivery of vaccination to his village . While Feng ’s plan is fairish , it drive home the level that the Chinese are always antagonistic . Not really a helpful portrayal of China .
Ahead of Its Time: The Role of CDC
Never has the Center for Disease Control and Prevention been so important as during a pandemic . And with their use inContagion , Soderberghsought to depict the CDC accurately . The quick , though measured , reaction from the CDC when it receives a account about Beth is an accurate portrayal of the process of studying the virus ’s biological nature while minimizing public anxiousness . Up until its escalation , the agency continue in its active part of being the master part of the crisis , for salutary or sorry .
Not just that , the film also depicted the CDC ’s methods for developing vaccines , in Dr. Mears ' and Dr. Ally Hextall ’s ( Jennifer Ehle ) stories . Finding a remedy is shown to be a run - and - error process with tons of complications .
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