Review of ‘Confessions of a Good Samaritan’: Need a Kidney?

When documentary filmmaker Penny Lane decided to donate a kidney to a stranger, the dramatic crux of her new film “Confessions of a Good Samaritan,” it inevitably raises the question of what came first: the movie idea or the altruistic act. Because, really, who does that?

Lane, known for her playfully inquisitive approach to truth-is-stranger-than-fiction stories, is comfortable with such speculation. “Confessions” delves into the mysteries of human impulses, elective surgery, and the roots of altruism. With over 100,000 people in need of a kidney, there is an evident gap between a solvable problem and the fact that people aren’t exactly rushing to donate a kidney they don’t need.

This conundrum is ideal for Lane’s offbeat nonfiction style. By turning the camera on herself, after previous documentaries on subjects ranging from an infamous quack (“Nuts!”) to religious liberty (“Hail Satan?”) and polarizing music tastes (“Listening to Kenny G”), Lane emerges as a charmingly honest guide through her personal journey into another unusual territory. Along the way, she includes voices of other donors and several engaging professionals, such as a cheerleading transplant surgeon, a dedicated neuroscience professor, and a humorous bioethicist, who provide a broader view on the morality, emotions, and history of kidney donation.

Lane informs us early in the film that her decision to donate preceded the decision to document it. This comes across as believable through the arc of research and self-analysis shown in “Confessions.” Watching Lane’s journey, it’s clear that this is a challenging commitment for her. In one of her on-screen confessionals, with surgery just a week away, she admits that her anxiety and hopelessness are at all-time highs. However, she is also empowered by the lifesaving logic of it all, feeling that she’s participating in humanity at its kindest.

Despite this, Lane’s dive into the history of the procedure reveals that resistance to transplant surgery has been ingrained from the start. Initially experimental and deemed unethical by the medical community, it became safe between twins and later between unrelated individuals with the aid of immunosuppressive drugs. But as “good Samaritan” donations became more widely known, thanks to numerous uplifting news segments, further questions arose about how this charitable act fits into our wider society. Individuals might not be judged for retaining their kidneys while indulging in risky behavior, but what about a healthy twin with an ailing sibling?

Advocate Sally Satel, featured in the film, suggests that the obvious answer to these thorny questions is compensation, controversial as that notion may be. Satel’s book title reflects her view: “When Altruism Isn’t Enough.” As Lane draws her own conclusions, it’s evident that “Confessions of a Good Samaritan” is not merely a personal experience turned into public advocacy. The film’s serious curiosity is balanced with a quirky theremin score and humorous asides, making it a messy, sometimes humiliating, sometimes exhilarating ride-along. It explores the complexities, pitfalls, and rewards of willful, anonymous neighborliness.

It’s clear that donating a kidney isn’t easy, but Lane’s journey suggests that it might be incredibly rewarding.

Source: Various