Director: Dr. Jessica Zitter
Producers: Dr. Jessica Zitter, Jen Gilomen and Niema Jordan
Editor: Jacob Bricca
Genre: Feature documentary
Country: United States
Language: English
Run time: 1 hour 26 minutes
Betty Clark is an 80-year-old, African American chaplain on staff at The Wilma Chan Highland Hospital Campus, the level-one trauma center in Oakland, California. Jessica Zitter is a white Jewish physician who has been Betty’s colleague on the Palliative Care service for over a decade. The two women are an unlikely team: chaplains and doctors do not usually pair up within the hierarchical and siloed halls of the hospital. Dr. Zitter, trained to believe in medical interventions and science, was not seeking a relationship with a chaplain. And Chaplain Clark never expected the doctor to take interest in her work. But with time, the two women’s shared values and history overcome the forces that keep them apart, and they go on to do their best work together.
THE CHAPLAIN & THE DOCTOR models a new kind of care, one that honors both spirit and body, the diverse backgrounds of patients, and the most human needs we all share.
Filled with warmth and humor, THE CHAPLAIN & THE DOCTOR follows two unlikely allies working to bring curiosity, connection, and compassion to a broken healthcare system — one patient at a time.
Filmmaker Dr. Jessica Zitter and guests in attendance at select screenings
New York, NY // Angelika Film Center: April 23
Montclair, NJ // Clairidge Theater: April 25
New York, NY // Maysles Documentary Center: April 27 - May 3
Providence, RI // Apple Cinemas: April 30
Boston, MA // Somerville Theater: May 4
Philadelphia, PA // Landmark Ritz 5: May 9
Washington, DC // JxJ Festival: May 11
Baltimore, MD // Charles Theater: May 12
Chicago, IL // The Logan Theatre: May 14
Cleveland, OH // Atlas Shaker Square: May 18
Detroit, MI // Emagine Royal Oak: May 20
Indianapolis, IN // Emagine Noblesville: May 21
Pittsburgh, PA // Manor Theater: May 28
Franklin, PA // Wildcat Mansion: May 29
Los Angeles, CA // Laemmle Royal: June 11
Additional cities nationwide to be announced here.