Hit French medical drama director dons scrubs to fight virus
The director of the hit French TV medical drama “Hippocrate,” a former doctor himself, was so moved by the urgency of the coronavirus pandemic that he couldn’t just stand back
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Sometimes in the best cases, life affects art and art affects life.
In March 2020, Thomas Lilti was directing a critically-acclaimed French TV medical drama depicting the dire state of French hospitals, featuring storylines such as strapped resources, fatal illnesses, doctors’ suicides and mental health issues among hospital staff.
But when the pandemic hit, Lilti realized the world didn’t need drama to illustrate that story: It was happening all around him.
The creator of Canal+'s hit drama “Hippocrate,” a former doctor himself, was so moved by the urgency of the pandemic that he couldn’t just stand back -- he put back on his scrubs.
Lilti — who also writes and directs the TV show that is named after the ancient Greek physician Hippocrates — ended up working in a hospital last year when the filming of his second season was suspended by France s coronavirus lockdown.
“As a doctor, I just humbly tried to lend my hands and my knowledge and return to the hospital after not practicing for eight years. Just trying to improve things,” he said.
With over 102,000 virus patients dead, France has one of the worst death tolls in Europe after the U.K., Italy and Russia.
With his studio shut down, Lilti transferred part of the set's multimillion-euro decor — materials such as real stretchers, trolleys and infusion stands — to a real French hospital that was facing strains amid the pandemic: the Robert Ballanger Hospital in Aulnay-Sous-Bois, a Paris suburb.
“We gave all our medical equipment that was used for the shooting to the hospital emergency rooms trying to help them,” he said.
He then worked in Robert Ballanger Hospital for about a month, helping patients, identifying medical records and using the skills he had acquired before he became a writer and director. After a few weeks, he had to pull back due to a lack of up-to-date doctors' insurance.
But the experience would impact him — and French television — in many ways. He used the drama of being back at work to rewrite the series’ second season.
“This frontal collision between fiction and reality for me was really a powerful experience and a very moving one,” he said. ("The series) is marked deeply by this adventure.”
The second season of “Hippocrate” is airing in France this month on Canal+.
___
Adamson reported from Leeds, England