'Cracking COVID' - Inside Australia's race against the virus

By definition they are universal, but pandemics can also be intensely personal things. 

Cracking COVID, a new documentary from Emmy Award-winning Melbourne filmmakers Genepool Productions, delivers powerful and penetrating insights into the emotional and physical responses of Australia’s coronavirus victims, clinicians, vaccine researchers – and even musicians.    

Cracking COVID premieres on ABC TV 8.30pm Tuesday 13th of July.

Recorded in real time over the past year, we see the fear, the challenges, the tragedies and joys of ordinary Aussies as their lives are profoundly changed, and sometimes ended, by a virus that is both strange and a stranger to medical science.

Filmmaker and narrator Sonya Pemberton joins Professor Peter Doherty – who won a Nobel Prize for his discoveries about the human immune system – in a series of frank conversations across many months. Professor Doherty, warm and witty, provides immediate and informed commentary as Melbourne, Australia and the world struggles to control rising case numbers.

In the Melbourne institute that bears Doherty’s name, as well as in research labs in other parts of the countries, scientists race to understand the virus, to find its weaknesses, and to develop a vaccine against it.

Pemberton is a fly on the wall – or, at least, an eye on the Zoom meetings – as the teams work to build a defence in a high-stakes, ultra-competitive contest to defeat SARS-COV-2. We see determination, concern, soaring optimism and crushing defeat, as Australia’s best hope for a vaccine fails at final fence.

‘This is very different science film to any I have made in twenty-five years of production: it’s a surprisingly tender look at hard science. At times, thanks to Peter Doherty, it’s even rather funny. It has become an unusual record of these complex times and, I hope, a gentle contribution to collective remembering.’

Sonya Pemberton, Director

 As the numbers rise, Cracking COVID never forgets that each case is an individual – unique, connected and loved.

We meet Michael Rojales, whose life hangs in the balance as he’s placed into an induced coma in ICU. Why is he so unwell? Tracking the body’s immune response to COVID-19, alongside the journey of Michael’s surrounding family, we gain deeper understanding.

Then there is Leila Sawenko and her three children. She develops symptoms, but her kids do not. Does their apparent immunity hold a vital clue? Researchers are anxious to find out.

And then there is Mirabai Nicholson-McKellar, whose initial infection is mild, but who then develops the crippling and debilitating symptoms of “long Covid”. Doctors struggle to understand why this formerly vibrant young woman is dragged ever lower by a virus that for most people resolves in just a few weeks.

Pemberton – whose previous award-winning documentaries include Vitamania, Uranium: twisting the dragon’s tail, and Jabbed: love fear and vaccines – suddenly finds herself a player in her own show when her hometown of Melbourne enters strict lockdown for 111 days. Like the other five million people in the city, she experiences a profound sense of dislocation, unease and – when the lockdown at last ends – fear and gratitude.

‘Making a film about COVID and trying to keep up with the fast and always-evolving science story felt like staring at the sun. It hurt. I longed to look away. I also had no idea I’d end up appearing in my own film. My preference is to stay invisible, tucked behind the scenes, letting my characters do the talking. But I was part of this story, whether I liked it or not. I had to adapt.’

Sonya Pemberton, Director

The effects of the pandemic extend far beyond the laboratories and clinics of the world. It is also challenge to artists of all types as they grapple with how to respond to a threat that is simultaneously ubiquitous and intensely personal.

Among them is Melbourne composer Dale Cornelius, who had just commenced a project called ‘52 Fridays’, which was a commitment to create a weekly spontaneous  improvisation on piano for an entire year, very quickly Dale’s world was changing and these performances became deeply personal responses to what was happening at the time. Dale’s music provides a telling and deeply emotional soundtrack to Cracking COVID .

‘When Sonya called me earlier this year and told me about her film, I instantly thought she might find a connection with my weekly piano improvisations , and so I sent her some links to watch. I am so happy that this music has resonated with people during lockdown and now, hopefully, will connect viewers of the film to the heart of Sonya’s film - people. ‘

Dale Cornelius, Composer

Cracking COVID is the surprisingly intimate story of Australia’s race against the virus – as it happened, in the moment, and on the fly. This is not a history. It’s a race-call.

Cracking COVID premieres on ABC TV 8.30pm Tuesday 13th of July, 2021 (additional transmission ABC+ Sunday 18th July 9.30 pm).  Duration: 75 minutes.

Soundtrack Album 52 Fridays coming out 13th July, 2021 (Apple and Other Platforms)

Featuring Piano Improvisations from Dale Cornelius’ Youtube Channel “Book Of Nightmares”
Improvised and Performed by Dale Cornelius courtesy of Native Tongue Music Publishing

The Australian Broadcasting Association presents in association with Film Victoria a Genepool Production Cracking COVID

Executive Produced, Written, Directed and Narrated by Sonya Pemberton
Producer Lucy Maclaren
DOP And Co-Producer Harry Panagiotidis
Editor Wayne Hyett A.S.E.
Music Dale Cornelius © Native Tongue Music Publishing 2021
Animation And Visual Effects Dom Bartolo, 21-19