Flu - (2013)


Flu Korean film review


Flu is a Korean foreign language film set on the premise of an airborne virus rapidly spreading on the outskirts of Seoul.

The film can be compared to Contagion or World War Z (without the zombies), which both follow similar viral outbreaks across North America.

Flu touches on real word themes relating to potential viral outbreaks, medical protocols in times of disaster and steps medical entities (like the CDC) have adopted to protect the public from airborne toxins.


Synopsis



Flu follows the story of a viral disease (which is quite similar to SARS and H1N1) spreading across the Korean mainland.

The film’s main characters are a fireman-paramedic and a virologist who meet early in the film when the doctor needs rescuing from a car accident. The two actually do not get along at first, as each find the other annoying.

But as the film moves forwards, the two meet again due to unforeseen circumstances. However, their second encounter finds the twosome at ground zero of a medical disaster.

People all around them start showing symptoms; people start dropping like flies on the streets, deaths are rapidly increasing and mass chaos ensues. The government issues a lockdown of the city and even initiates a quarantine zone.

The remainder of the film follows our main characters as the disease mutates and becomes stronger while the situation at ground zero becomes alike to a scene out of an apocalyptic nightmare.


Important Themes



Since Flu is set on the narrative of a viral outbreak, it can easily be linked to issues present during medical epidemics like SARS and H1N1.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome, popularly known as SARS, was a virus that infected over 8,000 people worldwide with an 11% fatality rate, according to statistics from the CDC.

The disease was a form of pneumonia and was first documented in China before it spread across the Pacific to North America. Scientists have since determined that the virus originated in a Chinese bat cave, and as of 2017 warn that an epidemic of said magnitude could easily happen again.

H1N1, also known as Swine flu, spread across the world in 2009. The flu pandemic was more fatal than the SARS virus. CDC estimates hold that over 284,000 people died from the disease, whereas the World Health Organization list estimates at 18,449.

The large difference in deaths are said to be because WHO totals only included people who were tested for having flu-like symptoms before their untimely deaths. The disease was first documented in Mexico and is said to have originated from the country.

Altogether, both viral outbreaks shook the way the general public look at viruses and influenzas. Both outbreaks touched thousands worldwide and were responsible for massive international panic.

At the time of both outbreaks, countries blocked their borders, quarantined city districts, initiated strict transportation policies and led national initiatives for producing cures.

The actions in Flu depict how a ground zero of such a lethal airborne virus would look like if either SARS or H1N1 were to have spread to a large population.


Conclusion



Flu is one hell of a film. Outside of the depiction of the virus, the film tells a story of survival, emotion and innovation.

Flu is a definite watch in my opinion. It has drama, action, thrills and even romance at times.

You don’t even have to be a fan of disaster films to enjoy it! But if you are a fan of the genre, Flu may be right up your alley. If so, prepare yourself for an entertaining and emotional journey.

Ali Tamachi

Alik is a marketer and writer who creates compelling "chef's kiss" worthy marketing and advertising collateral. Outside of his professional setting he is a big film nerd, loves reading, running and doing digital art. Feel free to follow him on his journey from the links below.

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