The Most Distant Places

A small team of Ecuadorian doctors expanding the possibilities of rural health for their own people.
by
Year Released
2010
Film Length(s)
35 mins
Remote video URL

Introduction

Dr. Edgar Rodas has dedicated his life to improving the health conditions for underprivileged communities in his native Ecuador, and Cinterandes is his visionary mobile hospital and rural health care project. The Most Distant Places travels with Dr. Edgar Rodas and his team to the far reaches of Ecuador; by road, from the indigenous mountain communities to the coast with their specially designed hospital truck; and by river, deep into indigenous villages in the Amazon jungle with their surgical boat. The story goes deeper to show how an innovative rural health project grew from the success of the mobile surgery program, and how Cinterandes has become an effective model that can replicated in other developing countries. By interweaving intimate portrayals of the doctors with stories of the patients they treat, this film offers a unique look at the challenges of providing health care for impoverished people located far from adequate medical facilities.

Featured review

The film is a good leader for discussions at many levels - in global health or development classes.
Nap Hosang
Program Head, Interdisciplinary Masters in Public Health program, Lecturer in Global Public Health, UC Berkeley

Reviews

The Most Distant Places is ideal for helping to teach my class on the principles and practice of international humanitarian surgery and medicine.
Dr. Donald Laub
M.D, former Chief of Plastic Surgery, Stanford University, and founder of Interplast
The Most Distant Places is an excellent and effective learning tool for students of sociology, global health, public health, and medical anthropology - as well as anyone interested in integrative medicine.
Sandra Teresa Hyde
PhD, MPH Associate Professor of Anthropology and Social Medicine, McGill University, Montreal

Awards and Screenings

Prize of the Ministry of Health of the Slovak Republic, 2010
Official Selection, Kos Ippokratis International Health Film Festival, 2010
Finalist, View Change film contest, Link TV, 2010
Official Selection, Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival , 2010
Ekotopfilm - International Festival of Sustainable Development Films, 2010
Official Selection, Sebastopol Documentary Film Festival, 2011

Features and Languages

Film Features

  • Subtitles
  • Transcript

Subtitle/Caption Languages

  • English
  • Spanish

Promotional Material

Promotional Stills

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