SARS: Cover Up and Aftermath 2013
Distributed by Diana Dai Communications, 60 High Park Blvd., Toronto, M6R 1M8, Ontario, Canada; 416 648 2168
Produced by Diana Dai Communications
Directed by Diana Dai
DVD , color, 51 min.
Jr. High - General Adult
SARS, Public Health, China, Human Rights, Government
Date Entered: 12/18/2013
Reviewed by Lori Widzinski, Multimedia Collections and Services, University Libraries, University at Buffalo, State University of New YorkDirector and producer Diana Dai has created a film chronicle of the SARS outbreak in China in 2003 and the resulting havoc it wreacked on China, Canada, and world public health. Tracing the initial outbreak to China, Dai clearly places the blame on the Chinese government at that time. Not only did they fail to accurately report the number of SARS cases to the World Health Organization, they were not informing the Chinese people about the significance of this new disease that was spreading quickly—leaving people with a variety of disabilities and killing many.
The film illustrates the governmental mismanagement by highlighting Chinese families devastated by SARS. The lack of information released, led to people not knowing about or taking precautions. As they fell ill with the disease, many died while others were left with painful, long lasting physical impairments. As the years passed, the Chinese people demanded that their government address the suffering of SARS victims. People were unable to work because of the after effects of the disease and the high steroid use that was prescribed to try to control it. Many lost jobs, their marriages and families broken. As late as 2008, the Chinese government was claiming that SARS was a natural disaster, and would not admit it was a public health issue, leaving thousands unable to claim any compensation from the Communist regime.
SARS: The Cover Up and Aftermath outlines the progress of government reactions to this public health disaster on a monthly, weekly and sometimes daily basis. There are few films available that document this tragedy with as much attention to detail. The viewpoint is biased, and most educators will be cognizant of that after seeing the film. Production values are good, but some of the footage is stock clips that are repeated, and some originates directly from SARS survivors resulting in a “home movie” look and feel in places. The music, while subtle, is a little over-dramatic at times. What it lacks in polish, it makes up in specificity, making it a welcome addition to library collections supporting public health programs. The disc is chaptered, and can be played in parts making it useful for classroom use. Narration is in English, and English subtitles are used when Chinese is spoken.