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    Anthony Fauci’s life, work during COVID are PBS film’s focus

    By SHOOTUpdated:No Comments1135 Views
    Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, speaks during the daily briefing at the White House in Washington, Dec. 1, 2021. \Fauci, the government’s top infectious disease expert, says he plans to retire by the end of President Joe Biden’s term in January 2025. Fauci, 81, became director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases in 1984 and has advised seven presidents. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh, File)

    By Lynn Elber, Television Writer

    LOS ANGELES (AP) --

    Dr. Anthony Fauci and his tumultuous experience during the COVID-19 pandemic are the focus of a PBS "American Masters" documentary.

    The film follows Fauci at home and at work during a 14-month period starting from President Joe Biden's inauguration in January 2021, PBS announced Wednesday.

    "Tony – A Year in the Life of Dr. Anthony Fauci" is set to debut on the PBS "American Masters" showcase in spring 2023, following a planned release in movie theaters.

    It will show "a rarely seen side of the scientist, husband, father and public servant," Paula Kerger, PBS president and CEO, told a TV critics' meeting.

    Fauci, 81, the government's top infectious disease expert, said recently that he plans to retire by the end of Biden's term in January 2025. He has served as director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases since 1984 and advised seven presidents.

    The pandemic represented an unprecedented challenge for Fauci, his work and his reputation despite his years of widely respected public health service. He's led research in HIV/AIDS, respiratory infections, Ebola, Zika and the coronavirus.

    The film follows Fauci "at home, in his office and in the corridors of power as he battles the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and the political onslaught that upends his life and calls into question" his long career as the nation's leading public health advocate, according to the announcement.

    Mark Mannucci, who directed the 2019 "American Masters" documentary on the Nobel Prize-winning scientist James Watson, directed and is a producer for the Fauci film.

    Tags:American MastersPBSTony FauciTony--A Year in the Life of Dr. Anthony Fauci



    India’s legendary filmmaker Shyam Benegal dies at age 90

    Tuesday, December 24, 2024
    Indian film directors Shyam Benegal, right, is seen during a discussion on Indian Cinema in Hyderabad, India, Monday, Feb. 18, 2008. (AP Photo/Mahesh Kumar A, File)

    Shyam Benegal, a renowned Indian filmmaker known for pioneering a new wave cinema movement that tackled social issues in the 1970s, has died after suffering from chronic kidney disease. He was 90.

    His contribution to cinema was recognized as a director, editor and screenwriter. He was also credited with a new genre of filmmaking.

    Benegal passed away on Monday at Mumbai's Wockhardt Hospital, and his cremation will take place on Tuesday, the Press Trust of India news agency reported, citing his daughter Piya.

    "Benegal had been suffering from chronic kidney disease for several years but it had gotten very bad. That's the reason for his death," Piya said.

    Many paid tribute to the legendary filmmaker on social media platform X.

    Filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt wrote that Benegal told stories without pretense. "They were raw and real, about the struggles of ordinary people. His films had craft and conviction."

    "Deeply saddened by the passing of Shyam Benegal, whose storytelling had a profound impact on Indian cinema. His works will continue to be admired by people from different walks of life," India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted.

    He was a mentor to top Indian actors, including Shabana Azmi, Smita Patil, Naseeruddin Shah, and Om Puri who made their mark in Bollywood's popular cinema as well.

    "I have lost my foster father, a man to whom I owe more than I can say," posted Naseeruddin Shah.

    "Shyam Benegal was not just a legend; he was a visionary who redefined storytelling and inspired generations," said actor Manoj Bajpayee.

    Benegal came into the limelight in the 1970s, with a series of films that challenged mainstream Bollywood. His films Ankur (1974), Nishant (1975), Manthan (1976), and Bhumika (1977)... Read More

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