“This is not just about the health of health care. It’s about saving the health of the nation.”
That is the tagline for the documentary Escape Fire: The Fight to Rescue American Healthcare. Directed and produced by Matthew Heineman and Susan Frömke, the film is an investigative documentary that explores and uncovers the secrets and truths behind the United States health care system.
Though the documentary is scheduled to be released Oct. 5, the American Medical Students Association (AMSA) at Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine (OU-HCOM) is hosting a screening of the film on Sept. 19 in Irvine Hall from 5:30–7:30 p.m. The event is free for all OU students and faculty.
“As a university, I feel such a topic is important for us all,” said Chido Odigwe, a sophomore studying medicine and the person in charge of the event. “It’s something we all have to be aware of.”
Odigwe said the film screening is part of a national event sponsored by REACT to FILM, Doctors for America, and SHOUTAmerica. The film has been shown on college campuses throughout the country in an effort to gain support for its cause.
“Our goal with Escape Fire is to provoke a paradigm shift in how our country views health and healing,” Heineman said. “We hope audiences will come away with a clearer understanding of how and why our system is broken, the barriers to change, and potential solutions, or escape fires, that could help fix our system.”
An escape fire is “an improvised, effective solution to a crisis that cannot be solved using traditional approaches,” according to the film’s website.
Heineman said he would like audiences to be empowered by the film, to push for societal change and to recognize the prevalence of escape fires.
Frömke said he hopes the human force of the documentary-style film will give the audience a stronger understanding of what ways the current health care system is flawed and how they can come to understand the system’s deficiencies.
Odigwe said a discussion session might also be held after the film. The screening will be private, so students and faculty must bring an OU ID to view the film.
The film, which is theatrically distributed by Roadside Attractions, will make its theatrical debut in at least nine cities on its release date, with plans to expand elsewhere if it does well, Heineman said. It will also be available that same day on iTunes and Video on Demand by Lionsgate.
“Escape Fire addresses the current state of our nation’s health care system,” Odigwe said. “One that many say is not just. Or, simply put, (is) not too good right now.”
wa054010@ohiou.edu
