The First Wave
Watch TrailerWhen Covid-19 hit New York City in 2020, filmmaker Matthew Heineman gained unique access to one of New York’s hardest-hit hospital systems. The resulting film focuses on the doctors, nurses, and patients on the frontlines during the “first wave” from March to June 2020. Their distinct storylines each serve as a microcosm to understand how the city persevered through the worst pandemic in a century
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📋 Film Details
| Year | 2021 |
| Country | United States of America |
| Genre | Documentary, History |
| Director | Matthew Heineman |
| Runtime | 94 min. |
| Rating | TMDB: 6.6/10 (29 votes) |
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🎬 MovieFinder's Take
The film constructs its narrative not as a distant report, but through raw, immediate access to the human cost. It relies on unflinching observation, where the silence of a hospital corridor carries more weight than any narration.
What lingers after viewing is not just the scale of the crisis, but the profound intimacy of individual courage and sacrifice in the face of overwhelming fear. — MovieFinder Editorial
Director: Matthew Heineman
Best Watched
Watch uninterrupted, in a quiet space, to fully absorb the gravity and intimacy of the experience.
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