Although the film’s opening sequences are reminiscent of a post-apocalyptic horror film, they depict the reality of Wuhan, China shortly after the outbreak of the Covid-19 epidemic. The city of 11 million inhabitants was placed under lockdown on January 23, 2020. This American-Chinese documentary follows the both tragic and hopeful stories of the next 76 days with raw immediacy. Determined hospital staff, a couple awaiting the birth of their first child, and a woman asking for a last chance to say goodbye to her father all strive for their best while balancing between life and death, hope and resignation.

Hao Wu, Weixi Chen, Anonymous

Chinese-American documentary filmmaker Hao Wu joined forces with his Wuhan colleague Weixi Chen and anonymous reporters to provide testimony from the impenetrably closed city. He has previously made documentaries on Chinese society and culture, People’s Republic of Desire (2018) and All in My Family (2019).