Frontline, The Virus that Shook the World

Monday, April 26, at 9 PM and Tuesday, April 27, at 10 PM

Repeats Tuesday, April 27, at 2 AM and Wednesday, April 28, at 3 AM; Thursday, April 29 and Friday, April 30, at 5 PM

Also airs on Fusion on Saturday, May 1 from noon to 3 PM

This two-part documentary special chronicles the first year of the coronavirus pandemic through the eyes of people all over the world—from a hot dog vendor in New York City to a ballet dancer in Moscow; from a food blogger in Wuhan to a filmmaker in a remote Indigenous village in Brazil.

Filmed in 21 countries and featuring extensive personal video and local footage, this documentary traces the pandemic’s path around the globe through the stories of people experiencing it, showing how responses to the disease that has now killed more than 3 million people have differed across culture, race, faith and privilege.

Over the course of two nights, from lockdowns to funerals to protests,The Virus That Shook the World shares intimate and unforgettable glimpses into how the pandemic has played out in the lives, homes and communities of people around the world. 

The Virus That Shook the World illuminates differences between how wealthy and low-income people have experienced the pandemic, and COVID-19’s disproportionate impact on Black, Indigenous, Hispanic and other people of color in the U.S. and elsewhere.

By juxtaposing the experiences of different people all around the world throughout the first year of the pandemic, The Virus That Shook the World offers a uniquely panoramic view of how the coronavirus has created ripples of profound loss, restructured how people across the world live their lives, and amplified existing inequities.