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Director: Bassek ba Kobhio
Cast: Andre Wilms, Marisa Berenson, Alex Descas, Elisabeth
Bourgine, Philippe Maury, Anne-Marie Pisani
Country: Cameroon and France
Year: 1995
Running Time: 93 min
Format: 35mm, French with English subtitles
 Many
of us grew up thinking Dr. Albert Schweitzer, winner of the
Nobel Peace Prize, was as close to a saint as we were likely
to see in the twentieth century. He took Western medical knowledge
to Africa and helped the whole world understand more about
medical problems in poor countries.
Cameroonian filmmaker Bassek ba Kobhio has a more complex
view. Shot on location alongside Gabon's Ogooone River in
Lambarene, where Schweitzer worked, this film shows a messianic
man who hardly can see the people around him. A Bach scholar
and talented musician, Schweitzer has no interest in any African
music. Often referred to as the "Great White Doctor" throughout
the region, Schweitzer never learned the language. Despite
his unarguable commitment to caring for the people around
him, his self-absorption limits his ability to pass along
more than the medicine he delivers.
In a powerful story, Bassek ba Kobhio makes us look at a
giant from many angles. As a character study, the film is
compelling. As a non-polemical view of public health, the
film also helps the audience think about the complex reality
of trying to help people in other cultures with Western technology
and expertise.
--Jed Dietz
Presented By: Dr. Joel Breman
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