American Doctor Review: Unbiased Examination of the Genocide Funded by Your Tax Money

      Note: This review was initially published during our 2026 Sundance coverage. The film is set to premiere on August 14.

      When will this end? When will this violence cease? And when will the United States of America stop its support? Filmmaker Poh Si Teng delivers a candid and unyielding examination of the genocide in Gaza through her documentary, American Doctor. The film follows three doctors—Dr. Feroze Sidhwa, Dr. Thaer Ahmad, and Dr. Mark Perlmutter—who are persistently striving to save lives in the Gaza Strip. Some trips allow them entry, while others are blocked for dubious reasons. Dr. Perlmutter is Jewish, Dr. Sidhwa is Zoroastrian, and Dr. Ahmad is Palestinian. Their purpose is the same as that of all medical professionals: to heal everyone they can.

      The film begins with a distressing image. Dr. Perlmutter shows Poh Si Teng a photo on his phone, which she later mentions she plans to blur for the final edit. He insists, with disbelief, that she should present the photo without any alterations, stating, “That’s what my tax dollars did… that’s what your tax dollars did.” The image depicts six murdered Palestinian children, arranged in a line. Throughout the 90-minute runtime, viewers witness countless children suffering from physical and psychological pain and trauma. It’s unending, brutal, and starkly real. Dr. Perlmutter often expresses anger about the situation, while Dr. Sidhwa and Dr. Ahmad strive to remain composed, even when addressing the indifferent Western press.

      American Doctor features moments of inspiration. The dedication of these doctors, who continue to risk their lives for those in need, is indeed commendable. However, the hospitals where they work are repeatedly bombed by the Israel Defense Forces, and the death toll continues to rise. Ultimately, the film is quite disheartening. It can leave one feeling bewildered to watch American Doctor and realize there are numerous individuals who could view the same footage and convince themselves that these deaths are mere casualties of war. The end credits reveal that over 1,700 healthcare workers have been killed in Gaza since October 2023.

      The documentary includes a notably futile trip to Washington, where the doctors engage with senators and their aides, who respond with rehearsed platitudes and visible disinterest. There are clips of President Trump with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that are predictably disturbing and callous. At one point, Dr. Sidhwa admits he cannot control Israel’s actions, but adds, “as an American, I just don’t want my government involved in crimes.” This sentiment underscores the film's central message, which deserves to be reiterated: we are funding this. These doctors are striving to enter Gaza to save the children who are being killed with our support.

      The film's unflinching style is profoundly impactful. The use of vérité footage reveals raw, honest moments—like a healthcare worker confronting our cameraman for filming an operation, and a fellow physician sharing with Dr. Perlmutter the story of how his own infant child recently passed away, struggling to find the words. We view the Nasser Medical Complex not just once, but twice—the first time with Dr. Sidhwa present. American Doctor is difficult to watch, and it should be. It is challenging to exist in a world where such events transpire, where we allow these atrocities to persist.

      American Doctor had its premiere at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival.