Synopsis
This deeply human documentary offers a unique perspective on AIDS, giving voice to general practitioners, researchers, ethicists, philosophers, and humanists. Here, the disease becomes a lens through which the strengths and flaws of our society are revealed, challenging our scientific, moral, and social principles. A global and groundbreaking approach that transcends life, death, and AIDS itself.
A word from Tënk
Released in 1993, three years before the advent of antiretroviral therapy that would extend the lives of patients, Doctors with Heart delivers a poignant portrait of the “AIDS years” in Montreal. Tahani Rached’s documentary follows doctors navigating the early years of this pandemic, including one who tragically died of an HIV-related complication during filming.
Rached highlights the courageous fight of these practitioners, whether through supporting research, raising awareness among authorities and the public, combating prejudice, or advocating for the rights of patients. Through their experiences, the film provides valuable insight into the discussions and debates that shaped the medical world—one forever transformed by this virus, which redefined the relationship between patients and doctors.
More than 30 years after its initial release, Doctors with Heart remains one of the most significant films made about the HIV crisis in Canada. It captures and preserves an essential part of Montreal’s AIDS history for future generations.
Alex Noël
Author and literature professor
