Plague City: SARS in Toronto

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Plague City: SARS in Toronto
Written byCollin Friesen
Pete McCormack
Directed by David Wu
Starring Kari Matchett
Ron White
Rick Roberts
Music byLawrence Shragge
Country of originCanada
Original languageEnglish
Production
ProducerWendy Grean
Cinematography David Herrington
EditorDavid Wu
Running time93 minutes
Production companies Lionsgate Television
Slanted Wheel Entertainment
Original release
Network CTV
ReleaseMay 29, 2005 (2005-05-29)

Plague City: SARS in Toronto is a 2005 medical thriller television movie directed by David Wu, set during the 2003 outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in Toronto. [1] The locations and characters were composite characters or fictionalized versions of actual Toronto medical personnel and facilities. [2]

Contents

Produced by CTV as part of its "Signature Series" of television films dramatizing significant Canadian news stories, [3] it was filmed in Toronto and Hamilton. [4] It was written by Collin Friesen and Pete McCormack. [5]

The film aired on May 29, 2005, on CTV. [6]

Cast

Critical response

John Doyle of The Globe and Mail wrote that the film "is in some ways, absurdly ambitious. It tries to capture an entire city's plight while sticking to the facts. It has many mundane TV-movie moments, but it's a grimly compelling production." [2]

Awards

AwardDate of ceremonyCategoryNomineesResultReference
Directors Guild of Canada 2006Outstanding Direction - Television Movie/Mini-SeriesDavid WuNominated
Outstanding Sound Editing - Television Movie/Mini-SeriesRichard Calistan, Rob Hegedus, Kevin HowardNominated
Gemini Awards November 4, 2006 Best Photography in a Dramatic Program or SeriesDavid HerringtonNominated

References

  1. Joel Rubinoff, "SARS flick is . . . cough cough . . . a bit sick". Waterloo Region Record , May 28, 2005.
  2. 1 2 John Doyle, "No SARS jokes, please". The Globe and Mail , May 27, 2005.
  3. "Plague City filmed in Toronto". Peterborough Examiner , January 8, 2005.
  4. "CTV filming movie about Toronto SARS outbreak". The Globe and Mail , December 10, 2004.
  5. "Ex-Winnipegger's voice tells SARS story". Winnipeg Free Press , May 28, 2005.
  6. "SARS crisis becomes made-for-TV movie: Plague City tells story of 2003 outbreak in Toronto". Sudbury Star , May 28, 2005.