nan | 楠木

Contagion, the latest film from director Steven Soderbergh, is both a thriller and a social study. The film follows the outbreak of a fictional deadly pandemic, and tracks an ensemble of characters impacted by it – the staff at the CDC and the WHO, on-the-ground doctors, opportunistic profit-seekers, and victims and survivors. Sometimes a character bridges several types of those roles.

The most haunting aspect of the film is the realization that all this could actually happen. Indeed, similar events (of lesser impact) have happened in the past, with SARS being the most notable in recent memory. In the film, the pandemic causes widespread anarchy, and scenes reminiscent of The Road and 28 Days Later – you get the image. It feels over-dramatic, but none-the-less the thriller part of the film works.

The character study portion, is mixed. A blogger who is trying to manipulate public opinion for his own profit is one of the more interesting and original characters, while there are plenty of characters who show humanity’s better side via mostly selfless and courageous acts. Some of the plot doesn’t really hold against logic, but the film’s style (sometimes almost documentary-like) makes them feel subtle enough.

Contagion is definitely not a feel-good film. It is also not a conventional thriller which you can sit back and enjoy. It has many moments which make you cringe, and lots of scenes where the more you reflect the more multi-dimensional they become. Recommended.

(8/10)