By Lee Pfeiffer
Not for the weak-stomached or faint of heart, Living in
Emergency: Stories of Doctors Without Borders, available now on DVD from First Run Features, offers excellent insights into
the highly-touted humanitarian organization and the individual doctors who keep
it afloat. The documentary follows volunteer doctors in war-torn Liberia and
Congo, not only detailing their “typical†work day activities (in often bloody
detail), but also delving into their motivations for joining the organization,
their means of coping with high-pressure situations, and their opinions of the
humanitarian assistance field.
While just watching the documentary, which includes
footage of crude amputations and a hernia the size of a beach ball, can make
your blood pressure rise, Living in Emergency is also strangely refreshing.
While most documentaries focusing on humanitarian assistance often turn into
love letters to specific organizations or individuals, Living in Emergency
avoids all-out hero worship in favor of a nuanced view that encompasses both
the successes and the shortcomings of the organization and its volunteers. While
the positive impact of Doctors Without Borders is certainly the focus of the
movie, concerns about its support of new staff members and premature decisions
to pull out of certain areas are also expressed. Similarly, while anyone
watching the film cannot help but admire the courage and commitment of the
organization’s volunteers, the movie also illustrates their humanity by showing them
at their best (in surgery) and their worst (drunk and argumentative).
The only real shortcoming of the film is its failure to
give a sufficient voice to the over 20,000 local staff that make Doctors Without
Borders run. As Americans, it may seem more captivating to watch our Western
counterparts delve into both a physical and metaphorical heart of darkness.
However, it is extremely important to recognize the role played by local
volunteers, who sacrifice their time, safety, and energy to help their own
communities without the promise of leaving after six months. While the
documentary does feature one local doctor, more interviews with healthcare
providers, patients, and community members would have greatly enriched the
documentary and provided a more balanced perspective on the organization.
Despite this weakness, Living in Emergency is an
excellent and thought-provoking film that anyone interested in the field of
humanitarian assistance should take the time to watch.
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