health
‘Can we accept what we have done or not done?’: harrowing film follows doctors in Gaza
American Doctor follows three volunteer doctors as they try to save lives on the frontline and then return to the US to become advocates in congress
TL;DR
- The documentary 'American Doctor' uses the familiar genre of medical dramas to bring the realities of Gaza to an American audience.
- It features three volunteer doctors: Thaer Ahmad (Palestinian-American), Mark Perlmutter (Jewish), and Feroze Sidhwa (Zoroastrian), who work on the frontlines of Gaza's overwhelmed hospitals.
- After their experiences, the doctors become advocates in the US, including testifying before Congress, leveraging their professional credibility.
- Filmmaker Poh Si Teng was motivated by a feeling of professional and political silence surrounding the conflict in Gaza.
- The film highlights the destruction in Gaza, the humanitarian crisis including rodent attacks on children, and the breakdown of infrastructure.
- A key theme is confronting American complicity and guilt, urging viewers to consider their responsibility for the events in Gaza.
- The film premiered at the Sundance film festival and is now in US cinemas.