Pandemiocracy

This is a very well crafted documentary considered that it was obviously done low budget during the lockdown in Italy, Philippines and the US. Its message (rather controversial) is clear and well supported by statistics and scientific findings. It states what I also believe is the truth and might also change the point of view of those who initially don't share the same ideas and opinions. Its main argument is that lockdowns didn't prevent at all the spread of the Covid-19 virus. The main study that backs the point comes from one of the best University in the World: Stanford.

The eye-opening interviews and data presentations are the intercuts of the story of an Italian-Filipino family who got separated due to travel restrictions, like many other families actually did. But here this family is the very own of director Soriquez who, during the months long forced separation, did his own research on the political and human impact of the lockdowns across several countries. What emerges is a painful truth: the cure has been worse than the disease. It might seems like a bit of an arduous statement but, sadly, there are many studies and researches (not all of them reported in this documentary of course) that well support it.

Particularly interesting in Pandemiocracy, is how the director stresses, through interviews, the important of a healthy lifestyle as a plus in successfully fighting this virus. It doesn't mean that if you are healthy you cannot be affected by it. There were cases, like the one of Leonardo Greco, where healthy and young people got it really bad. This serves as warning not to undermine the aggressiveness of this virus. But generally, the statistics have shown that the people that suffered and died because of it, were mainly old or with co-morbidity (diabetes, heart problems and so on).

One criticism I feel to bring forward is that the film uses a bit too much stock footage, even though well selected and almost always very relevant to the topic being discussed.

Another criticism is the use of AI narrating voices instead of warm human voices. I guess this was only due to budget considerations unless the director really wanted to make the cold reality he depicts even colder. This is somehow an interesting point.

The coverage of the murder of George Floyd was shocking with the parallelism of the unfortunately famous "I can't breath" cry of pain, with the shortness of breath of people kept breathing through respirators. It comes in my mind that 2020 is a real "I can't breath year" under all points of view. Even from those of millions of people kept captive inside their own homes.

The editing of this work (done by Soriquez) is really good and fast paced, as it always keeps the attention up. The importance of a good musical score is also well felt. All in all is a well-crafted documentary (mostly considered the budget that was put into it) that well presents its convincing point of view.

A well-balanced documentary that carries on its rather controversial thesis while leaving room for the contradictory. Very informative but also highly entertaining, it shows us the side of the pandemic less discussed by newspapers and televisions. Several touching scenes make it quite emotional, and it couldn't be otherwise given the subject matter. Valuable and noteworthy is the director's intent to denounce the violation of human rights and freedom of speech perpetrated both by authoritarian governments and, unfortunately, by democratic countries. This is a documentary not to be missed and which deserves the attention of a wider audience.

The Director Ruben Maria Soriquez did a great job of stating the facts. His approach was personal, and could of been a little more emotional. The interviews were really good and I learned allot about what happened in Italy, in the begining of the Pandemic. Excellent editing.

A docu masterpiece! Great rhythm, engaging storytelling, interesting interviews and the courage to tell the things as they are even though they are ugly. During these last two years we have experienced to a war to common sense, a war to human rights, a war to freedom of speech and a war against those scientists who refuse to just obey the politicians and have the courage to publish scientific works that prove all the uselessness of all these lockdowns. Social distance is what really works not house arrests which are really, like the director says, is the "cure worse than the disease". This docu should be watched by as much people as possible to wake them up from this "obedience social experiment" that we are forced to partecipate in.

Eventually a documentary that tells the truth: he inutility of the lockdowns. U. S. States with shelter-in-place orders did not report fewer infections and deaths last year. This is based on serious studies. And I am happy to see that there are filmmakers to deal with such a theme. I admire you director Soriquez for having the courage to make and release this eye opening documentary. Now, this docu doesn't imply that social distancing efforts were ineffective. But social distance is one thing while locking people inside their houses and ruining the whole economy is another thing. Aside from criticising the lockdown this documentary deals with the painful issue of human rights violation during this pandemic. For those of you who haven't a strong stomach there are some crude scenes of people being beaten for defying the shelter in place order (in third world countries). Good thing there are warning messages before those clips. Really interesting are the interviews to two Italian doctors, especially to the older one who was also infected with the virus at the age of 80+, and who tells us what to do to better prepare our immune system to fight the disease.

All considered this is an outstanding documentary. Lots of things to learn from it.