Not all things that have healing powers are found in medicine. That’s the lesson learned (I’d even say “proven”) from the spectacular and deeply moving documentary The Chaplain & The Doctor from filmmaker Dr. Jessica Zitter, who also happens to be one of the two subjects of the film.
Zitter is a white, Jewish (both of these distinctions play a role in the movie) physician at Oakland’s Wilma Chan Highland Hospital Campus, doing Palliative Care work for more than 10 years. She is one half of the least likely partnership, along with Betty Clark, an 80-year-old, African-American chaplain, who is also on staff providing spiritual aide to patients who request it. Coming from a family of doctors, Zitter learned young that when her relatives switched on doctor mode—even with her—they stopped treating her like a person with feelings and fears about their condition. So she did all in her power to be a different type of healthcare provider. But it wasn’t until she teamed up with Clark that she saw the true possibilities if her profession, as well as its shortcomings.
Through Clark, the two were able to take a clearly broken, sometimes prejudicial system and turn it into something restorative. Their relationship is filled with genuine friendship, growth on both their parts, and even laughs, and Zitter as a filmmaker manages to capture all of these elements with empathy, compassion, and an attempt to discover the connection between these two women. Even the fact that Zitter took Clark’s work seriously takes the chaplain by surprise, and Zitter doesn’t hide the fact that some of her decision and presumptions about patients are still racially biased, a fact she quickly and ferociously makes the effort to acknowledge and course correct.
The Chaplain & the Doctor introduces us to a series of patients who are frustrated, confused, and in significant pain, and how Clark talks to them and, more importantly listens, results in some incredible transformations. If people recognize that laughter and raised spirits are a type of medicine, the simple acknowledgment of the undeniable link between body and spirit isn’t that much of a leap, even for those purely devoted to science.
Their work together is impressive, but the film’s heart is revealed in more private conversations between the women about their shared values, similar personal and family traumas, and mutual belief that this process works. When Clark is sidelined because of an unknown illness, Zitter is there as both her advocate and friend, and we become all the more invested in this team. To borrow a medical term, their caring and humanity is infectious. And it’s such a radical shift from the way so much in the world is going today, it’s easy to get emotional seeing is on display so boldly.
The film screens Thursday, May 14 at The Logan Theatre, with filmmaker/subject Dr. Jessica Ritter in attendance for a post-screening Q&A.
If you enjoyed this post, please consider supporting Third Coast Review’s arts and culture coverage by making a donation. Choose the amount that works best for you, and know it goes directly to support our writers and contributors.
