1918 was an eventful year: What would become known as the First World War was in full swing, America was training hundreds of thousands of soldiers to help with the fighting in Europe, and a disease quietly swept the world, its effects muffled by broad war censorship of the press by many nations. Spain, in its neutrality, faced no such censorship and became the first country to publish stories about a spreading pestilence. Because of this, the influenza epidemic and then the pandemic of 1918 became known globally as “The Spanish Flu.” This documentary follows the path of the virus from the training camps of middle America to the battlefields of France and Germany and back again.
The Spanish Flu falls firmly into pop documentary stylings and is not unlike some classic History Channel content. Some of the sound stylings tend towards those typical in true crime, and there are a few unscientific suppositions made about epidemiology, but these issues are minor. The Spanish Flu is an incredibly entertaining documentary.
While those looking for infotainment will be pleased to find this title on public library shelves, those teaching epidemiology or discussing historic pandemics in regards to COVID-19 will want to see this title in college library collections. There are many historical parallels between the two pandemics: Persistent world travel, rushed urbanization, and climate issues drive both the 1918 influenza outbreak and the COVID-19 pandemic.
We see the same patterns of disease minimization over disease mitigation, some word-for-word. While these comparisons are not explicitly made in the course of the documentary, those who have been following the pandemic closely and those aware of minimizing rhetoric in today’s media will easily draw comparisons, and this feels by design. If you’re looking for a topical yet historical pop doc to add to your collection, consider The Spanish Flu first. Highly Recommended.
Where does this title belong on public library shelves?
The Spanish Flu would be best suited to pop documentary collections, but could also be placed alongside history and disease documentaries.
What kind of film series could use this title?
Film series focused on World War I, infectious diseases, and public health will benefit greatly from the addition of The Spanish Flu.
What is the retail price and/or Public Performance License fee?
1-year streaming starts at $125; 3-year streaming starts at $175; Life of File streaming starts at $275