The First Wave

"Four months, New York City, 2020."

2021 1h 34m EN

👍

6.7

SOLID

★6.7TMDB · 31

DocumentaryHistory

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

When Covid-19 hit New York City in 2020, filmmaker Matthew Heineman gained unique access to one of New York’s hardest-hit hospital systems. The resulting film focuses on the doctors, nurses, and patients on the frontlines during the “first wave” from March to June 2020. Their distinct storylines each serve as a microcosm to understand how the city persevered through the worst pandemic in a century

“Four months, New York City, 2020.”

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Where to watch · US

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Cast

Nathalie Dougé
Self
Alexis Ellis
Self - Ahmed's Wife
Kellie Wunsch
Self
Brussels Jabon
Self
Naph Jabon
Self - Brussels' Husband
Athens Garrote
Self - Brussels' Sister
Andrew Cuomo
Self (archive footage)
Michael Dowling
Self

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Matthew Heineman
Languages: English
Countries: United States of America

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

ERA

Did you know

Released 5 years ago.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Matthew Heineman, shot by Matthew Heineman. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by H. Scott Salinas. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Francisco Bello shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Nathalie Dougé and Alexis Ellis and Kellie Wunsch carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

FACT

Did you know

Marketing tagline: "Four months, New York City, 2020.".

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt13391444 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

WILD

Did you know

Only 31 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Matthew Heineman directs. Matthew Heineman behind the camera. H. Scott Salinas scores. Francisco Bello cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. Produced in United States of America. Dialogue in English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1Released 5 years ago.
2Directed by Matthew Heineman, shot by Matthew Heineman. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
3Original score by H. Scott Salinas. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
4Editor Francisco Bello shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
5Nathalie Dougé and Alexis Ellis and Kellie Wunsch carry the top of the cast.
6Marketing tagline: "Four months, New York City, 2020.".
7IMDB entry: tt13391444 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
8Only 31 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.
9Classified under 8 themes, including "new york city", "quarantine", "ambulance", "hospital".