Page 19 - Boca Exposure - July '23

Boca Exposure, Page 19
Film Review: The God Committee

By Nils A. Shapiro In the opening scene, we learn that members’ motivation and reasoning
St. Augustine Hospital’s pre-eminent becomes clear: the administrator’s
It is an unfortunate fact heart surgeon, Dr. Austin Boxer (Kelsey awareness of the hospital’s need for
that the number of patients Grammar) and another of the hospital’s funding; the nurse’s compassion for
who need human organs heart surgeons, Dr. Jordan Taylor (Julia the elderly man’s financial situation;
for what is often lifesaving Stiles) are having an affair – and, soon surgeon Dr. Boxer’s cold, objective
transplant surgery is far after, that she has been approved to join reminder to everyone that “the heart
greater than the number of him on the “God Committee,” replacing is just a muscle” … and Dr. Taylor’s
organs available. another member. conflicted decision after weighing
When such emergencies The committee – which also includes her own feelings against her personal
arise – and because even the hospital’s Administator Dr. Valerie involvement with Dr. Boxer.
the limited number of Gilroy (Janeane Garofalo), psychiatrist When the scene shifts to another,
available human organs must be used within very strict Dr. Allen Lau (Peter Kim), nurse similar crisis seven years later, much
and brief time frames in order to still be viable – the Wilkes (Patricia R. Floyd) and Father has changed in what we know about
critical determinations about which patients from among Dunbar (Colman Domingo), a former the film’s lead characters. Without
the many needing them will receive the transplants prosecutor turned priest – is soon faced giving away too many spoilers here it
are unhesitating life-and-death decisions now made in with having to decide which of three is enough for you to know that, by now,
hospitals throughout the United States and worldwide by patients will receive an available heart transplant: an Dr. Boxer’s cigarette smoking habit has reached the point
special groups selected for this challenging purpose. elderly woman, an elderly black man who cannot afford where he himself has become a reluctant candidate for
Such small groups—generally comprised of hospital the usual mandatory health insurance, or the teenage a heart transplant.
administrators, surgeons, representatives of other medical heroin addict son of a wealthy man, Emmett Granger For several years he has been in charge of a major
disciplines and a religious leader – because of the awesome (Dan Hedaya), who has offered to donate $25 million to research project at the hospital, one that – by being able
nature of their responsibility are often called “God Committees.” the hospital with a specific, though suspect, statement to use animal hearts instead of humans’ – would solve the
This film depicts vividly the decisions faced by such a that it is “not conditional on the committee’s decision.” problem of insufficient donors and thus save thousands
fictionalized committee in two circumstances seven years As the minutes tick by, using up precious time of of lives. The project is nearing completion, needing just
apart, in 2007 and 2014. the donated heart’s viability, each of the committee a little more time and funding, but Dr. Boxer is reluctant
to accept a heart transplant because at his advanced age
and physical condition he is not the most appropriate
Mayor’s Update from page 18 This by far was the most impactful planning session candidate.
I have experienced as Mayor. In this era of immediate Complicating the situation is the fact that important
professionals to enable them to live and work in communication, sometimes vital details are lost. In this changes have taken place in the personal relationship
our community, thereby attracting and retaining an process, we were able to take the time to have meaningful, between Dr. Boxer and Dr. Taylor that affect them both
available workforce for industry and commerce. We comprehensive discussion in the sunshine about the profoundly – but those will not be revealed here. Suffice
intend for attainable housing to sustain our property current needs and the future direction of Boca Raton. it to say that the committee makes its decision with all
values, be high quality, aesthetically appealing, and I am excited by the results of these sessions and the of the above in mind.
promote neighborhoods. ideas and energy that came from them. As always, I For many of us, there are reasons to believe that such
Continue to implement sustainability and resiliency appreciate your thoughts and ideas. Please email your decisions are best left to God. You may not agree with
efforts that ensure our long-term environmental viability. thoughts to ssinger@myboca.us. Your opinions matter the outcomes as determined by man in this 2021 film
Ongoing sustainability and resiliency efforts in our daily to me. You can also stay in touch with me on Facebook, streaming now on Netflix, co-written by its director,
business operations, community awareness and education, Instagram, and Twitter at @ScottSingerUSA for more Austin Stark, and Mark St. Germain from a play by St.
and adoption of emerging environmental technologies details on future town halls and my regular updates on Germain. But I am confident you will find The God
fosters our community’s holistic health and well-being. city news and events. Committee interesting, and very much worth your time
and attention.

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