“The Only Doctor” kicks off Southern Circuit Tour of Independent Films

Hanceville, AL — The first of five films in the Southern Circuit Tour of Independent Films to be shown at Wallace State Community College may strike a chord in rural areas surrounding the college that may be dealing with similar issues discussed in “The Only Doctor.”

The award-winning documentary tells a contemporary story of rural healthcare in the United States as it centers on Dr, Karen Kinsell, who for nearly 20 years has been the only doctor in a southwest Georgia County.

The film begins when Dr. Kinsell comes to the realization that she can no longer afford to volunteer full-time as the only doctor in Clay County, Georgia. But ever committed to her community, she looks to forge a partnership with a medical university to keep her clinic open. After several options, a possibility emerges and so does disappointment. Then the pandemic creates new challenges, but also opportunities and new decisions.

With production taking place from the beginning of 2019 through 2021, what’s captured is a rural healthcare experience before, during and after one of the greatest pandemics in history. Over this time, the film turns into a David and Goliath story, featuring a small-town doctor and a powerful medical university, which reveals the inequities of rural healthcare and how money, politics and convenience determines who does and does not receive medical care.

“This film should give pause to United States citizens that this is happening to our fellow country persons,” said producer Anjanette Levert. “The film is overall about healthcare for poor people with nods to other issues like mental health, addiction, rural resources, inequality and mobility.”

The film made its world premiere as the 2023 Hot Docs Film Festival, with a preview screening at the 2023 Atlanta Film Festival, where is received a Special Jury Mention Georgia Feature Award. It also received a Documentary Feature Award of Merit from the 2023 University Film and Video Association.

Director, cinematographer and editor Matthew Hashiguchi is schedule to attend the screening on Thursday, Oct. 19 at 5:30 p.m. in the Burrow Center for the Fine and Performing Arts.

Hashiguchi is a documentary filmmaker whose prior feature-length documentary, “GOOD LUCK SOUP,” was broadcast on PBS World’s America ReFramed, received a 2016 Documentary Fund Award from the Center for Asian American Media. He is an Associate Professor in Multimedia Film & Production at Georgia Southern University.

View the movie trailer at: https://vimeo.com/338135749.

Other films scheduled in the series include:

• “Little Satchmo” on Nov. 9
• “Butterfly in the Sky” on Feb. 15
• “Master of Light” on March 14
• “Hollow Tree” on April 18

All films are free and open to the public. They are an extension of Wallace State’s Burrow Museum offerings in conjunction with Wallace State Student Engagement.