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Overlooked & Underrated Docs & Features
(click on broll or dschwartz for all his posts)
Tales from the Organ Trade: Law, Ethics, and Life Narrated by the appropriately-chosen David Cronenberg, “Tales from the Organ Trade” explores the murky world of the international trade in body parts with an exclusive focus on the selling and buying of kidneys. In a very short 82 minutes, well-lauded filmmaker Ric Esther Bienstock brilliantly covers the ethical, moral, legal, and human issues of this trade.
Bienstock traveled the world, interviewing donors, recipients, doctors, and others involved with the kidney trade. Letting the traders speak for themselves, she presents their stories, thoughts, and opinions. Add to that the basic facts about kidney transplants and the global trade in these organs, Bienstock’s film confronts—if not demands—viewers to join the debate.
In the world of kidney transplants, under current laws, demand far surpasses supply. Considering the tales and information provided by this film, it appears that this discrepancy could be significantly reduced—if not eliminated—by the creation of legal, regulated paths through which donors may sell their kidneys. Also eliminated would be the horrors of the illicit trade.
“Tales from the Organ Trade” is an HBO documentary, and as of this writing is still in the festival circuit. See the film’s link above to find future screenings and other ways to see the film.