aiff_program09_interior.xp 3/2/09 3:54 PM Page 24
David McCullough: Painting with The English Surgeon
ies
Words
93 minutes a73 2007 a73 United Kingdom/Ukraine
39 minutes a73 2008 a73 USA a73 In Competition
Thursday 9:30p
a73
Friday 10:00a
a73
Saturday 3:30p
Sunday 12:30p
a73
Monday 6:30p
Thursday 6:30p
a73
Friday 12:30p
a73
Saturday 10:00a
Sunday 3:30p
a73
Monday 3:30p
Plays with: Acholiland (p51)
Plays with: Between the Folds (p21)
Director/Producer: Geoffrey Smith a73 Executive Producers: Sally Jo Fifer, Nick Fraser, Greg
Sanderson a73 Cinematographer: Graham Day a73 Editor: Kathy O’Shea a73 Music/Composers:
Director: Mark Herzog a73 Executive Producers: Mark Cowen, Mark Herzog a73 Producer: Gary
Nick Cave, Warren Ellis a73 Principal Cast: Marian Dolishny, Igor Kurilets, Henry Marsh a73
documentar
Goetzman, Tom Hanks a73 Cinematographers: Shana Hagan, Jack Kney, Byron Shah a73 Editor:
theenglishsurgeon.com
John Campbell a73 Music/Composer: Blake Neely a73 Principal Cast: David McCullough a73
hbo.com/docs/programs/davidmccullough
This powerful film follows Henry Marsh, one of London’s foremost
brain surgeons, as he openly confronts the dilemmas of the doctor-
An intimate, informal portrait of an artist as historian. The
patient relationship on his latest humanitarian mission to the
Pulitzer Prize-winning author (John Adams) and acclaimed
Ukraine. Driven by the need to help others, he has been going to
24
narrator (The Civil War and The American Experience)
Kiev for 15+ years to improve their medieval brain surgery
welcomes viewers into his public and private world, exhibiting
methods. Patients see him as the great saviour from the West,
the infectious curiosity, humor and humanity that have defined
desperate parents want him to save their child, and his Ukrainian
his work and life.
colleague Igor Kurilets sees him as a guru and a benefactor.
McCullough climbs the same Philadelphia church steeple
For all the direct satisfaction he recieves, Henry also sees
tower Adams did two centuries earlier and studies an original
grossly misdiagnosed patients, children whom he can’t save,
letter Adams wrote to his wife the day before July 4, 1776. He
and a lack of equipment and trained supporting staff. It is this
also sings, paints and reflects on his undiminished enthusiasm
dilemma of his troubled and compassionate humanity, that
for writing while sitting in his tiny “world headquarters” (shed-
leads to the universal theme at the centre of the film: the
like though not a shed, he insists) on the grounds of his home.
struggle to do good things in a selfish and flawed world.
McCullough provides an insightful, anecdotal look into his life
Includes graphic scene of brain surgery. [subtitles, violence]
and career, while displaying a refreshing approachability and
genuine interest in people he meets along the way.
Geoffrey Smith
Mark Herzog
Director’s Statement
Director’s Statement
Ukraine is a country I have visited many
times since 1994, and on each visit I have
My short documentary is best described as
never failed to be fascinated by it. Its
a portrait of an artist. That artist, two-time
surreal mix of humour, pathos, energy and
Pulitzer Prize-winning historian David
wonderful visuals is utterly captivating,
McCullough, did not start out in life to
and I kept promising myself that one day I
write about history. He wanted to be a
would make a film out there.
painter. Instead, over time, he became a
writer who literally painted the stories of the lives of his
In 2003 I met brain surgeon Henry Marsh and we quickly discovered
subjects—with words.
that we both had a love of this strange and forsaken land. He had
been going out to Kiev for over 13 years to help a Ukrainian protégé,
Many people who see this documentary comment about
Igor, create a viable brain surgery clinic, and theirs was an incredible
David’s obvious charm, the love that he has for his wife of
story. On Henry’s next visit out to Kiev I went with him, and within
nearly 54 years, his talent as a singer and his clear ability to tell
minutes of being with him and Igor in a small consulting room
a story. But the most satisfying comments are from those who—
seeing an endless queue of desperate patients, I knew I had the film
based solely on the passion they see David has for every one of
about the Ukraine I had wanted to make for years.
his subjects—want to rush out and buy one of his books to read.
Filmography: Danger Unexploded Bomb!, Your Life In Their Hands, and international
Filmography: The Work To Come: Tribute to Senator Edward M. Kennedy
television documentary credits
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