In the Same Breath

2021

1 hr. 40 min.

Documentary

List

96%

57 Reviews

Tomatometer

83%

Fewer than 50 Ratings

Audience Score

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.

Read More

Read Less

Max

Watch In the Same Breath with a subscription on Max.

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.

Read Critics Reviews

David H

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.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

08/23/21

Full Review

Facebook U

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

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/20/21

Full Review

Avindu G

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 !!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/04/23

Full Review

Audience Member

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

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/15/23

Full Review

Leyton M

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.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/10/22

Full Review

Audience Member

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

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

02/12/23

Full Review

Read all reviews

Post a rating

89%

78%

American Pain

98%

85%

One Child Nation

TRAILER

for One Child Nation

74%

67%

Bully. Coward. Victim. The Story of Roy Cohn

75%

36%

Time Bomb Y2K

TRAILER

for Time Bomb Y2K

100%

90%

Katrina Babies

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

2022 Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month TV & Streaming Calendar

2022 Producers Guild Awards Nominations: The Full List

2022 Film Independent Spirit Awards Nominations

View more photos

Brian Lowry

CNN.com

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.

Aug 18, 2021

Full Review

Manohla Dargis

New York Times

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

Aug 18, 2021

Full Review

Justin Chang

Los Angeles Times

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

Aug 12, 2021

Full Review

LaNeysha Campbell

But Why Tho? A Geek Community

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

Rated: 10/10

Jan 16, 2023

Full Review

Ricardo De Querol

El Pais (Spain)

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]

Dec 5, 2022

Full Review

Ema Sasic

Next Best Picture

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.

Rated: 8/10

Jun 21, 2022

Full Review

Read all reviews

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
Executive Producer: Nancy Abraham, Lisa Heller
Production Co: Little Lantern Company, Cinetic Media, Little Horse Crossing the River, HBO Documentary Films, Motto Pictures
Genre: Documentary
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 18, 2021

Most Popular at Home Now