GUEST EDITORIAL: What We Can Learn From Pandemic Movies Before COVID

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What We Can Learn From Pandemic Movies Before COVID

by Adrian Johansen

It wasn’t so long ago that the closest the majority of people got to a viral outbreak was an onscreen depiction. It was a threat safely contained within fictional narratives and its information didn’t need to be retained. It seems strange to think watching those same movies now might give audiences some areas for consideration.

Let’s take a look at a few onscreen learning points that are worth revisiting. 

Fear and Mistrust

Accurate messaging has been one of the prevalent issues of this pandemic. In a crisis, people look to their leaders for guidance. Though the Korean production, Flu (2013), had some extreme symptoms for dramatic purposes, it handled the issue of communication with relative accuracy. The poor and inconsistent messaging from political leaders and the World Health Organization (WHO) in the movie contributes to heightened fear which erupts into panic and violence.

We can see where this pre-pandemic depiction can help to reflect and inform our real-life relationship to viral outbreaks. In uncertain times, poorly communicated data and advice can serve to exacerbate the public’s mistrust and fear of the unknown. This, in turn, leaves room for misinformation to fill the gap and propagate. 

The COVID-19 vaccine response has been hampered by scary news coverage that many people have difficulty evaluating for accuracy. It’s important for people to review the reliability of sources and assess alarming statistics in context. Unfortunately, they too often rely on celebrities and politicians as they feel they should be able to trust these figures. While the impact of misinformation is not as violent as it is in Flu, it is still damaging to recovery efforts.

The Concept of Zoonosis

The concept of zoonosis is not particularly well-understood by a lot of movie-goers or indeed the general public. During the COVID-19 pandemic, this poor grasp of the potential origin of disease has led to a great deal of speculation. In particular, the idea that the virus may have been initially found in bats has spread among the public. Without a good understanding of what this actually means, people have perpetuated harmful racial stereotypes surrounding the eating of bats.

However, this is where the pre-pandemic movie, Contagion (2011) has something to teach us. Much like our present crisis, the film depicts the origins of the virus in bats. More importantly, it takes time to clarify that the transfer to humans through zoonosis is the result of various ecological interactions. In the movie, the destruction of bat habitats to build pig pens leads to dropped bat food being consumed by pigs. Viruses carried by both animals mingle and mutate, which are then passed to humans, resulting in further mutations.

The moviemakers here went to great lengths to make sure the depicted idea of zoonosis was not only scientifically accurate, but also understandable. Importantly, it provided context about how the interconnectedness of ecosystems and behavior influences the mutation of viruses. People need to understand the complexities of the situation, rather than rely on the simplistic inaccuracies that send them down the wrong path.

The Role of Experts

Expertise is vital to handling any public health emergency. Epidemiologists, in particular, play a key role in virus research, liaising with community health professionals, and educating the public. Their ability to identify, gather, and analyze various forms of crucial data can help ensure the response to an outbreak is swift and effective. Unfortunately, a lack of understanding of how these types of experts fit into the process has too often led to the population looking to less-informed public figures for guidance.    

There are movies that can be learning opportunities regarding these roles. Outbreak (1995) is a movie renowned for getting some details of virus response wrong. However, it does a relatively good job of demonstrating how wide-reaching epidemiologists’ responsibilities can be. They’re not just standing at a podium telling people what to do. It shows the background work of the investigative process, laboratory research, and interviews with members of the public to better understand the chain of contagion. 

We can also look to 1993’s And the Band Played On as a useful insight into the types of hurdles epidemiologists have to overcome. The movie’s protagonist not only struggles to establish accurate data regarding the AIDs virus — additionally they face resentment and clashing agendas among the public, businesses, and politicians who also hamper research and communication efforts. This type of accurate portrayal of medical professionals and their challenges can help educate the public.

Family Impact

In movies, we usually see pandemics through the lens of direct impact on patients. However, there is a distinct effect on families and friends of those experiencing illness, too. It can be difficult to recognize how best to support a loved one that has been admitted to a hospital during a pandemic, as there are often visitation protocols and the need to prevent further exposure. Family members may only be able to communicate remotely for long periods of time. This has thrown a lot of people off-guard.

Unfortunately, there are relatively few good examples of this kind of impact in movies. In some ways, I Am Legend (2007) is one of the better depictions of family impact. Aside from its more outlandish horror elements, it shows families are being separated by necessity as a result of the infection. 

Importantly, the film shows the panic resulting from the unknown and unprepared for consequences of immediate separation. Something we can take from this is how important it can be to put plans in place in case one of our family members must be isolated. It’s never going to be a pleasant experience, but by mitigating the unexpected, it can ease pressure on everyone involved.

Conclusion

COVID-19 has caused significant disruption and distress. While it is vital to look at the facts, there are things we can learn from movies released prior to our current crisis. Some highlight the damaging effects of misinformation and fear, while others show technical aspects of disease and those who work to combat it. Whether the current pandemic or those in the future, we need tools to educate people in accessible ways, and movies can play a key role here.