Global health film

Overview This assignment invites you to explore global health issues through the lens of film. By engaging with a documentary or narrative film, you will critically examine how health, illness, and healthcare systems are portrayed, and how they intersect with broader global health themes such as equity, social determinants, power dynamics, and cultural context. Visual storytelling can offer a powerful entry point into the human dimensions of global health, allowing us to witness structural violence, resilience, activism, and ethical complexities in ways that statistics and journal articles may not fully capture. Assignment Goals By completing this assignment, you will be able to: Identify and analyze global health themes depicted in film Critically reflect on how health issues are framed and contextualized Connect film narratives to core course concepts (e.g., social determinants of health, global governance, ethics, human rights, health systems) Recognize the role of culture, politics, and inequality in shaping health outcomes Instructions Select a Film Choose one film from the approved list below or propose a different film with instructor approval. The film should focus on a global health issue (in a global South or marginalized setting) and provide opportunities for critical reflection. Approved Films (examples): The Cave &md=781&submit=1 The waiting room Fire in the blood Bending the Arc Watch the Film As you watch, take notes on: The health issue(s) highlighted Cultural, economic, political, or environmental context Who is depicted as responsible for solutions or failures Representation of affected communities vs. external actors Write Your Analysis (700 words) Your analysis should address the following: Introduction (approx. 200 words) Briefly summarize the film and its main storyline. Identify the central health issue(s) depicted. Thematic Analysis (approx. 200 words) What global health themes are illustrated (e.g., access to care, gender, conflict, equity, social determinants)? How does the film represent structural factors (e.g., poverty, colonization, war, racism)? Are local communities portrayed as empowered or passive recipients of aid? Critical Reflection (approx. 200 words) Did the film reinforce or challenge dominant narratives about global health? Were ethical dilemmas or power imbalances present? What was the role of international organizations, governments, or health workers? What surprised you, moved you, or left you questioning? Connection to Course Concepts (approx. 100 words) Link your analysis to at least two core concepts from the course. Cite Your Sources Use APA citation style for any references to course readings or external sources