'American Doctor' shows brutality of conflict in Gaza

American doctor Mark Perlmutter, an orthopedic surgeon with experience treating victims of natural disasters and conflicts worldwide, was unprepared for the brutality he witnessed in Gaza during Israel's retaliatory strikes. The suffering of patients in Gaza hospitals, since Israel's response to the October 2023 Hamas attack, forms the core of the documentary "American Doctor," directed by Poh Si Teng.

Three American doctors - Perlmutter, a Jew; Thaer Ahmad, a Muslim of Palestinian descent; and Feroze Sidhwa, whose parents are Zoroastrian - are featured in the film. They focus on providing medical care rather than engaging in political debates about the conflict. Sidhwa noted that understanding the conflict is not dependent on one's knowledge of Arab-Israeli history, but rather on one's stance on the murder of children, torture of physicians, and bombing of hospitals.

The documentary's focus on the three doctors highlights the urgency of the situation in Gaza, with more than 73,300 deaths reported by the Hamas-run Health Ministry. Israel claims to have targeted Hamas fighters using tunnels, but the doctors insist they have not seen any tunnels in the hospitals they have worked in.

The film's cinematography is a delicate balance, as director Teng wanted to show the truth without being gratuitous. One particularly harrowing scene depicts a "double-tap" where missiles strike first responders treating patients following a bombing at Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis. Perlmutter emphasized the importance of showing the reality, even if it's uncomfortable, stating that the doctors are not dignifying the victims unless their stories are told.

The overwhelming response to the documentary reveals a change in public perception, according to both Teng and Perlmutter. They hope "American Doctor" will contribute to shifting the narrative surrounding the conflict and bring attention to the plight of the people in Gaza.