Showbiz
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Moya Lothian-McLean
1585309500
At times like this, light entertainment can be a real saving grace.
Which is why it seems like everyone is watching the likes of Tiger Kingon Netflix or raiding the archives of the newly launched Disney+.
For TV channels, choosing what to air can take on a new significance as people look to their little black boxes to provide comfort or information.
This is why ITV2’s decision to air Steven Soderbergh’s 2011 pandemic film Contagionlast night was an… interesting choice.
For those who haven’t seen it yet, Contagion tells the story of how a virus spreads across the world from Hong Kong.
It covers issues like how unprepared governments across the globe are for such a situation, the lockdowns that ensue, the economic crash, stockpiling and the race to find a vaccine.
It even features an influential blogger who gets arrested by the FBI after making money from falsely claiming he has a cure.
Prior to coronavirus, Contagionwas already being praised for how accurate it was in depicting the spread of a new illness and what would happen in that scenario.
At the time of its release, the New Scientistsaid it was “hard to name many Hollywood blockbusters that are as invested in the realities of science as Contagion”.
The level of accurate detail in the film – which includes engaging explanations of R0 (‘R-naught’) numbers aka the calculation for how contagious a disease is – is thanks to heavy consultation with scientific experts like Dr Ian Lipkin, the director of the Center for Infection and Immunity at Columbia University.
And for viewers who caught the movie on ITV2 last night, it was a jarring, if informative watch.
Some were stunned by how “uncanny” it was at mirroring the events happening now.
I watched a 2011 film called Contagion last night. It was uncanny the way in which it resembled the advance of toda… https://t.co/B86N1EjsR5— Liz Harris (@Liz Harris) 1585295290
One person’s dad decided to throw a family movie night with a twist…
Another Twitter user said they regretted their viewing choice.
So should not have watched Contagion (even though its a V good film) Extremely dark thoughts entered my head at 3am… https://t.co/yk4fAdDbr9— Dava. (@Dava.) 1585308098
Others pointed out a few elements that didn’t match up to current experience.
This Contagion movie on ITV is completely unrealistic All the medics have full PPE and no-one's run out of bog roll— Balders 💙 (@Balders 💙) 1585262243
Some didn’t think it was in good taste.
As if Contagion is on @ITV tonight 🙄 very tasteful while we’re dealing with a pandemic 🤦🏽♀️— Jervene (@Jervene) 1585263508
But others said the decision could actually help to inform the public of just how much is at stake.
@andytwhite @itv2 Wow - really - I think it’s the perfect time to show it and it should have been in mainstream… https://t.co/JUWQTEz997— JP (@JP) 1585262442
Ultimately, it might be best to avoid a watch if you’re nervous.
But if you’re the kind of person who thinks knowledge is power?
ITV2 have you covered.
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