ITALY’S COVID HOTLINE

25 min TV Documentary

Main Roles: Director, Producer, Cinematographer , Writer for Aljazeera.

In Italy's COVID hotline, Max Grassi listens to many heart-wrenching stories about the emotional and physical toll of the pandemic during the first wave of coronavirus. But this call continues to haunt him.

Synopsis

Max is a successful film producer in Milan, Italy. But at the end of February 2020, his life changed dramatically when Italy’s coronavirus problem exploded exponentially. With the Italian film industry now closed, Max, compelled to help, has become a volunteer for the ‘Covid-19 Emergency Response Unit of Lombardy’, run by the Carabinieri – Italy’s paramilitary police force. 

The epicentre of the Italian pandemic is rapidly shifting. From Bergamo and Codogno, the virus is reaching Milan and the Emergency Response Unit is bracing for a violent impact. Max feels overwhelmed and powerless in front of the huge numbers of calls.

The Italian government is planning to ease lockdown restrictions for the first time toward beginning of May, which means Max is about to find out if the pandemic has been brought under control.