Unlike the United States, South Africa is very familiar with pandemics and their lasting tolls on society if not contained. The country has one of the highest per-capita rates of HIV with at least nine million people infected with the disease. When COVID-19 hit, South African filmmaker Rehad Desai was inspired to begin documenting the work of those combatting the virus, comparing it to early and ongoing HIV/AIDS activism and government action.
Throughout this intriguing documentary, Desai makes connections with our society and economic systems, showing how varied actions driven by colonialism and capitalism expose millions of people and their farm animals to zoonotic pathogens such as coronavirus. Population density and city life further exacerbate issues, making airborne pathogens like MERS and SARS harder to contain. Time of Pandemics seeks to document South Africa’s great strides in public health but also serves as a warning: The time of pandemics is now, and we should be wary.
Time of Pandemics is a fantastic documentary from start to finish. Rehad Desai’s documentary style and effortless ability to connect past and present make this film as informative as it is interesting to watch. Those interested in Covid and other pandemics will want to watch this documentary. Through archival footage and new interviews, many notable public health officials lend their voices to the documentary, including Dr. Fauci, who cut his teeth as a public health leader during the AIDS crisis.
Desai hopes for a better future but warns that the failures seen during the early years of HIV and AIDS may play out with COVID-19 if we allow victim blaming and individualism to cloud our collective judgment. Those seeking new content about the COVID-19 pandemic or HIV and AIDS should consider The Time of Pandemics above all other titles. Highly Recommended. Editor’s Choice.
Where does this title belong on public library shelves?
The Time of Pandemics belongs alongside public health and current events documentaries.
What type of college instructor would use this title?
Those teaching epidemiology, the history of the AIDS crisis, current events, and medicine will find the most use in this documentary. Those studying COVID-19 specifically will want to utilize this film in the classroom.
Institutional licensing is available upon request. Available via Ovid.tv, Docuseek2, and Vimeo.