In the Same Breath

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In the Same Breath
In the Same Breath poster.jpeg
Official poster
Directed by Nanfu Wang
Produced by
  • Nanfu Wang
  • Christopher Clements
  • Julie Goldman
  • Carolyn Hepburn
  • Jialing Zhang
Cinematography
  • Jarred Alterman
  • Peter Alton
  • Tom Bergmann
  • Gil De la Rosa
  • Michelle Gao
  • Yuanchen Liu
  • Rex Miller
  • Martina Radwan
  • Sam Rong
  • Michael Shade
  • R.C. Song
  • Paul Szynol
  • K. Yang
  • Matt Yu
Edited byMichael Shade
Nanfu Wang
Music byNathan Halpern
Production
companies
Distributed by HBO
Release dates
  • January 28, 2021 (2021-01-28)(Sundance)
  • August 12, 2021 (2021-08-12)(United States)
Running time
95 minutes
CountryUnited States

In the Same Breath is a 2021 documentary film directed and produced by Nanfu Wang. It follows how the Chinese and American governments reacted to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Contents

It had its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival on January 28, 2021. It was released in a limited release on August 12, 2021, by HBO Documentary Films prior to its broadcast on HBO on August 18, 2021.

Synopsis

The film follows the response of the Chinese and American governments to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Production

While Nanfu Wang was still working on another project, she set out to make a short film about the Chinese government's response to the COVID-19 pandemic, leaving her son with her mother. But as COVID-19 spread, Wang became worried and started looking for more information during her stay in China, she found that much of it was censored or false propaganda disseminated by the Chinese government. She began contacting cinematographers in Wuhan, China and soon realized that the stories about the pandemic were too important to be in a short film. She started incorporating the American response to the pandemic after seeing some U.S. health officials share misinformation about it. [1] HBO Documentary Films came on board to produce and distribute the film. [2]

Release

The film had its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival on January 28, 2021. [3] [4] It also screened at South by Southwest in March 2021. [5] It was released in a limited release on August 12, 2021, prior to its broadcast on HBO on August 18, 2021. [6] [7]

Reception

Critical reception

On Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an approval rating of 96% based on reviews from 50 critics, with an average rating of 8.40/10. The critics' consensus reads: "Gripping and clear-eyed, In the Same Breath captures history as it's being written -- and governmental failures as they amplify worldwide tragedy." [8]

Accolades

AwardDate of ceremonyCategoryRecipient(s)ResultRef.
Cinema Eye Honors March 1, 2022 Outstanding Direction Nanfu Wang Nominated [9] [10]
Outstanding ProductionNanfu Wang, Jialing Zhang, Julie Goldman, Christopher Clements, and Carolyn HepburnNominated
Outstanding Broadcast FilmIn the Same BreathWon
IDA Documentary Awards March 4, 2022Best FeatureNanfu Wang, Jialing Zhang, Julie Goldman, Christopher Clements, and Carolyn HepburnNominated [11] [12]
Independent Spirit Awards March 6, 2022 Best Documentary Feature In the Same BreathNominated [13]
Producers Guild of America Awards March 19, 2022 Outstanding Producer of Documentary Motion Pictures Nanfu Wang, Jialing Zhang, Julie Goldman, Christopher Clements, and Carolyn HepburnNominated [14]
Peabody Awards June 6–9, 2022DocumentaryIn the Same BreathWon [15]

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References

  1. ↑ P. Means, Sean (January 27, 2021). "These Sundance films bring the COVID-19 pandemic to the screen". The Salt Lake City Tribune . Retrieved January 28, 2021.
  2. ↑ Coyle, Jake (January 28, 2021). "t Sundance, pandemic dramas unfold on screen and off". The Washington Post . Archived from the original on February 3, 2021. Retrieved January 28, 2021.
  3. ↑ Brough, Rick (December 22, 2020). "Sundance Unveils 2021 Film Festival Lineup". KPCW. Retrieved January 17, 2021.
  4. ↑ "Sundance Film Festival unveils slate for 1st virtual edition". ABC News. December 15, 2020. Retrieved January 17, 2021.
  5. ↑ Day-Ramos, Dino (February 10, 2021). "SXSW Film Festival Unveils Full Lineup; Charli XCX Quarantine Feature To Close Fest; Tom Petty Docu Set As Centerpiece". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved February 10, 2021.
  6. ↑ "In the Same Breath". Laemmle.com. Retrieved August 2, 2021.
  7. ↑ "HBO Documentary IN THE SAME BREATH Debuts August 18 (Official Trailer)". WarnerMedia . August 5, 2021. Retrieved August 5, 2021.
  8. ↑ "In the Same Breath (2021)". Rotten Tomatoes . Fandango . Retrieved April 5, 2021.
  9. ↑ Pond, Steve (March 1, 2022). "Flee Wins Top Prize at Cinema Eye Honors for Documentaries". TheWrap. Retrieved March 2, 2022.
  10. ↑ Grobar, Matt (November 10, 2021). "Flee & Summer Of Soul Lead Cinema Eye Honors Nominations". Deadline. Retrieved February 4, 2022.
  11. ↑ "Nominees Revealed for the 37th Annual IDA Documentary Awards". International Documentary Association. November 15, 2021. Retrieved February 4, 2022.
  12. ↑ Hipes, Patrick (January 6, 2022). "IDA Awards Shifts 2022 Ceremony To March As Virtual-Only Event". Deadline. Retrieved February 4, 2022.
  13. ↑ Long, Brent; Tangcay, Jazz (December 14, 2021). "Indie Spirit Awards 2022: Full List of Nominations". Variety . Retrieved February 4, 2022.
  14. ↑ Pedersen, Erik (January 27, 2022). "PGA Awards Nominations: Licorice Pizza, Don't Look Up, Dune, King Richard & CODA Among Pics Vying For Marquee Prize". Deadline. Retrieved February 4, 2022.
  15. ↑ Hipes, Patrick (June 8, 2022). "Peabody Awards: The Wonder Years, In The Same Breath, We Are Lady Parts Among Latest Winners". Deadline. Retrieved June 8, 2022.
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