Filmmaker Geoffrey Smith follows British neurosurgeon Henry Marsh as he travels to Ukraine to work with his friend and colleague Igor Kurilets. The state of medicine in Ukraine is, like much of the country’s infrastructure, severely deficient. Marsh brings expertise and equipment to assist Kurilets in serving patients, many of whom have had inadequate or no treatment.

The soulful Dr. Marsh brings a gravity all his own to the film. His own demons never far from his elbow, Marsh works to exhaustion, often seeing patients whose lives could have been saved if only they were able to receive treatment earlier. While the stories of patients are gripping, it is the relationships Marsh forms with Kurilets, his patients, and the patients’ families that will stay with you. An excellent soundtrack by Nick Cave and Warren Ellis is just a sweet, sweet bonus.

Screening twice at SILVERDOCS, both the director and Dr. Marsh will be available for Q&A after the shows. Though I have seen the film twice, I look forward to hearing the two men talk about the film.

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As always, the disclaimer applies: This is a festival to which I have a substantial connection. I have volunteered for the past two years and sat on this year’s Selection Committee. I wrote for the festival catalog and will likely be introducing some of the filmmakers and subjects at the festival. Feel free to adjust for my bias. My blog reportage and opinions, however, do not represent the views of AFI or the SILVERDOCS festival, the Selection Committee, or of any of their staff. No one should construe anything expressed on this site as being endorsed or supported by AFI, SILVERDOCS or anybody other than me.