‘American Doctor’ shows brutality of conflict in Gaza

Mark Perlmutter, an orthopaedic surgeon who has treated patients in conflicts and disasters worldwide, found the horrors of Gaza exceptionally harrowing. Since Israel's retaliatory actions following October 2023's Hamas attack, he and his colleagues have witnessed unprecedented suffering in Gaza hospitals. American Doctor, a Sundance Film Festival premiere and upcoming US theatrical release, focuses on three American doctors from diverse backgrounds - Jewish, Muslim, and Zoroastrian - who work in these challenging conditions.

The documentary, directed by Poh Si Teng, avoids taking sides in the conflict, instead highlighting the doctors' work and the urgency of the situation. The trauma faced by the doctors and patients alike is stark, with one particularly distressing scene depicting a "double-tap" where missiles strike first responders treating victims of a bombing.

The film's director has faced challenges in depicting the reality of the situation, balancing the need to show the truth without causing gratuitous harm. The doctors express frustration with the repeated need to explain the conflict's complexities to media and policymakers, emphasizing the need for a simple response: "We have to stop this."

Despite the difficulties, there is hope that the film will contribute to shifting the narrative and raising awareness about the situation in Gaza.