We should have seen this one coming. After over a year since Covid-19 has forever changed our lives, National Geographic will distribute a documentary about the pandemic. From Oscar nominated director Matthew Heineman comes “The First Wave.”
According to Deadline, “The First Wave spotlights the everyday heroes at the epicenter of COVID-19 as they come together to fight one of the greatest threats the world has ever encountered. With poignancy and intimacy, the film unflinchingly bears witness to the unseen reality of a hospital overwhelmed by COVID—the emotional and psychological toll on medical professionals, patients fighting for their lives, and their families hoping for them to come home.”
The film, which focuses on healthcare workers, is Matthew Heineman’s latest work. Heineman 2015 film, “Cartel Land” earned an Oscar nomination for Best Documentary. Heineman would go on to win Best Documentary Director at the Director’s Guild of America Awards.
Additionally, his narrative film “A Private War,” was nominated for Best First-Time Director at the DGA Awards. Thus, making Heineman and Martin Scorsese the only two directors to earn DGA nominations for both narrative and documentary films.
Meanwhile, National Geographic’s partnership with the acclaimed director adds to their impressive roster of documentaries. NatGeo’s Documentary Films division has only been around since 2017. However, they distributed the incredibly well made “LA 92,” a documentary that only uses archival footage. Additionally, their 2018 film, “Free Solo” won the Oscar for Best Documentary. The following year, “The Cave” also picked up a nomination.
With National Geographic and Matthew Heineman’s impressive resumes, “The First Wave” should be on everyone’s radar when it debuts later this year.
