Second Victims (2025)
This is a very impressive first feature length film by Zinnini Elkington dealing with the consequences of the need for quick medical assesments in a fast paced hospital environment, and how people deal with feelings of guilt, conscience and self doubt.
We follow the confident neurologist Alexandra for a single shift. It is hectic environment with only barely enough staff, but she is determined to not let the pressure get to her and take on extra assignments while treating stroke patients. She assesses an 18 year old young man with a strong migraine, but she sends him home as she sees no sign of anything serious. Shortly afterwards the man falls over with a stroke and quickly ends up in a coma.
While the characters in the movie are seeking to assign blame and especially Alexandra is forced to deal with her sense of guilt, the movie doesn’t pass judgement. It isn’t about anyone doing a wrong call or finding the cause of the error. It is simply a tragic outcome in a world where medical assessment isn’t always an exact science, and some fall victim to unlikely statistics. The 1 in 3000. I have personally been close to a situation that is very similar to what happens here, so it is the sort of thing that does happen and the film handles the dilemmas in a very balanced manner.
Özlem Sağlanmak carries this film and the camera is focusing on her almost the entire 90 minutes. How she conveys her inner feelings, self doubt and how her own image of herself is being greatly challenged, makes for an impressive performance.
Rating: 4