Totally Under Control
COVID-19 has forever changed the world, and it was only a matter of time until the tool of cinema was used to document the story – which is developing everyday. Whilst projects like Netflix's Homemade collection of short films have sought to capture the emotions of this time, Totally Under Control is one of the first films to truly try and capture the facts of the COVID-19 pandemic and try to find where the United States went so wrong in their response. Even with the shorter production attempting to create the most relevant final project as possible, it is impossible not to be sucked into Totally Under Control, which not only succeeds in being an engaging and important record of the COVID-19 pandemic but also in being an incredibly well made film that has legitimate craft and technical marks.
Though living through the COVID-19 pandemic has proven to be a chaotic and often confusing experience with countless voices contradicting each other only to then come out with a new thesis entirely the very next week, it is ultimately calming to see a project like Totally Under Control lay out the events of the pandemic in a way that is easy to understand and appreciate. With the benefit of both hindsight and brave individuals willing to share their insider perspectives, Totally Under Control has the luxury of being able to put its various perspectives in order, building a narrative that can actually explain the assorted events.
The film is incredibly well paced and focused but also equally honest. Where much of the narrative surrounding Totally Under Control is its views on Donald Trump's actions, the film doesn't hide other facts to help craft a narrative. From the CDC to the news, Totally Under Control is not afraid to show flaws, both in logic and action, from all parties, which is a necessary puzzle piece for its breakthroughs. The conversation within Totally Under Control is comprehensive and the fact that a film could be so well crafted when its content has only existed for such a short amount of time is nothing short of remarkable.
Whilst Totally Under Control is careful to cover all its bases when it comes to facts and perspectives, the film is anything but a dry lecture. Clearly benefiting from the raw emotions that the audience will carry in the current moment, Totally Under Control is easily one of the most frustrating and genuinely anger inducing films in the best of ways. There have been countless documentaries capturing mistakes and hardships of the past, but the experience of seeing these mistakes which directly caused the situation of quarantine that one will be watching the film in during its release is surreal at moments. Totally Under Control is well aware of this emotional relevance and uses it without abusing it, creating a film that will stand up to the test of times for years to come due to its craft even if the most powerful emotional gut-punch will come from viewings of the film as close to its release as possible.
For those who want to learn more about the COVID-19 pandemic specifically within America and how the country ultimately failed over and over again, Totally Under Control is a must see documentary. This has both the raw emotional relevance and genuine craft to stand out as a powerful and worthwhile viewing experience that will have audiences both on the edge of their seats and yelling at the screen.
