The First Wave is a 2021 American documentary film, directed and produced by Matthew Heineman. The film follows a hospital in New York City, as it battles the COVID-19 pandemic. Alex Gibney serves as an executive producer.
It had its world premiere at the Hamptons Film Festival on October 7, 2021. It released on November 19, 2021, by Neon.
Synopsis The film follows a hospital in New York City from March to June 2020 as it battles the COVID-19 pandemic. The film examines structural factors that influenced the initial COVID outbreak and how such factors impact American society more broadly.
Production
In April 2020, it was announced Heineman would direct a documentary film revolving around the COVID-19 pandemic, focusing on health care workers with Alex Gibney set to serve as an executive producer.
Matthew Heineman reached out to a source from his previous film Escape Fire: The Fight to Rescue American Healthcare, to explore access opportunities at different medical facilities in New York, with Long Island Jewish Medical Center allowing Heineman and his crew to film. Donning the same personal protective equipment as hospital staff, two-person teams deployed to chronicle unfolding events. No crew members contracted the virus during production.
Release In March 2021, Neon and National Geographic Documentary Films acquired distribution rights to the film. It had its world premiere at the Hamptons International Film Festival on October 7, 2021. It also screened at the Busan International Film Festival and BFI London Film Festival on October 9, 2021. It will also screen at AFI Fest in November 2021. It released in the United States on November 19, 2021. and in the United Kingdom on November 26, 2021, by Dogwoof.
Reception Critical reception On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 96% based on 27 reviews, with an average rating of 7.9/10. The website's consensus reads "The First Wave presents a starkly gripping snapshot of a crisis unfolding -- and its grim toll on those who put their lives on the line to fight it". On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 85 out of 100, based on 11 critics, indicating "universal acclaim".
Accolades AwardDateCategoryRecipientResultPhiladelphia Film Festival November 4, 2021 Best Documentary Feature The First Wave Critics' Choice Documentary AwardsNovember 14, 2021 Best Science/Nature Documentary The First Wave Best Editing Francisco Bello, Matthew Heineman, Gabriel Rhodes, and David Zieff Hollywood Music in Media Awards November 17, 2021 Song – Documentary Film Jon Batiste (for the song "Breathe") Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association December 6, 2021 Best Documentary The First Wave Cinema Eye Honors March 1, 2022 Outstanding Production Matthew Heineman, Jenna Millman, and Leslie Norville International Documentary AssociationMarch 4, 2022 Pare Lorentz Award Matthew Heineman, Jenna Millman, and Leslie Norville Best Cinematography Ross McDonnell, Thorsten Thielow, Brian Dawson, Matthew Heineman, and Alex Pritz Producers Guild of America Awards March 19, 2022 Outstanding Producer of Documentary Motion PicturesThe First Wave News and Documentary Emmy AwardsSeptember 29, 2022 Best Documentary Outstanding Cinematography: Documentary Brian Dawson, Matthew Heineman, Ross McDonnell, Alex Pritz, and Thorsten Thielow Outstanding Direction: Documentary Matthew Heineman Outstanding Editing: Documentary Francisco Bello, Matthew Heineman, Gabriel Rhodes, and David Zieff Outstanding Music CompositionThe First Wave Outstanding Sound Outstanding Promotional Announcement
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