“ we have to face these stories - they represent the truth of limited health access - not just on the fringes of developing societies but for the vast majority of it “

Logo of Documentary Australia featuring an orange abstract shape and black text.

Woodrow Wilson; Director

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the story

5 billion people worldwide lack timely and affordable access to surgical care resulting in high rates of avoidable disabilities and mortality

A black and white portrait of a person with a rough, textured face, looking to the left with wide eyes and slightly parted lips. The person is wearing a dark shirt.
A young boy with a burn scar on his side standing on a platform, looking down.

A shirtless young man wearing sweatpants standing in tall grass outdoors with clouds in the sky.
A black and white photo of a man with an enlarged head and a thin, elongated body with sparse hair and prominent facial features standing against a plain wall. He is wearing jeans and no shirt.
A black and white photo of an elderly woman with a serious expression, sitting on a bed or seat with a plain background. She has short hair, a patterned cloth draped over her head and shoulders, and is partially unclothed, revealing one breast with a large (possibly medical) scar or wound on it, and covered legs with patterned fabric.

“ I think one of the hard things about being a photographer, is that every photo you take, you live. You’re watching a moment unfold, and you have to take a perspective that is both subjective and objective. Most of these images I only really emotionally process after the fact, as you use the lens as a barrier. There have been many times that I feel overwhelmed — but then you have to remember why you’re there - to tell someone else’s story that needs to be told. “

Woodrow Wilson 2018

We immerse ourselves in the enchanting melodies of local music and the grace of traditional dances that bind communities. These cultures, intricately woven into their surroundings, represent a level of resilience that ought to inspire others. Yet, beneath the surface, a haunting silence lingers – the absence of adequate surgical care that burdens these very communities. This compelling documentary unearths the stark disparities in surgical care across various nations compared to the care readily available in Australia.