''Hippocrate'' (also known as ''Hippocrates'' and ''Hippocrates: Diary of a French Doctor'') is a 2014 French

drama film In film and television, drama is a category or genre of narrative fiction (or semi-fiction) intended to be more serious than humorous in tone. Drama of this kind is usually qualified with additional terms that specify its particular super ...

directed by

Thomas Lilti Thomas Lilti (born 30 May 1976) is a French family doctor, screenwriter and film director. He is best known for his three movies series about the medical field: “Hippocrate” (Hippocrates: Diary of a French Doctor) in 2014, “Médecin de Cam ...

. It was screened as part of the

International Critics' Week The International Critics' Week (french: Semaine de la Critique) was founded in 1962 and is organized by the French Syndicate of Cinema Critics. It was created following the showing of '' The Connection'' directed by Shirley Clarke which had been ...

section at the 2014 Cannes Film Festival. The film received seven nominations at the 40th César Awards, winning Best Supporting Actor for

Reda Kateb Reda Kateb ( ar, رضا كاتب; born 27 July 1977) is a French actor. Life and career Kateb was born in Ivry-sur-Seine, France, to an Algerian actor, Malek-Eddine Kateb, and a French nurse of Czech and Italian origin. He is a grandnephew of t ...

Plot

Benjamin Barois ( Vincent Lacoste) starts his medical internship in the service led by his father, Dr. Barois (

Jacques Gamblin Jacques Gamblin is a French actor. Life and career Jacques Gamblin is a French actor. He studied at the Centre dramatique de Caen (Caen Dramatic Arts Centre). Originally, Jacques Gamblin was not destined to act. As a professional technician ...

). Feeling enthuastic, at first, he meets Abdel Rezzak (

), another fellow intern who's from

Algeria ) , image_map = Algeria (centered orthographic projection).svg , map_caption = , image_map2 = , capital = Algiers , coordinates = , largest_city = capital , relig ...

. However, he is soon caught up by the harsh reality of the hospital work. Indeed, during a night shift, Benjamin visits Jean-Michel Lemoine, a homeless patient who suffers from abdominal pains. Benjamin tries his best to reassure him and prescribes him

analgesics An analgesic drug, also called simply an analgesic (American English), analgaesic (British English), pain reliever, or painkiller, is any member of the group of drugs used to achieve relief from pain (that is, analgesia or pain management). It ...

but, because of the misfunctions of the device, he cannot do an ECG. The morning after, a colleague tells him that Mr Lemoine is dead. Benjamin is, then, summoned by his superior, Dr. Denormandy (

Marianne Denicourt Marianne Denicourt (née Cuau; born 14 May 1963) is a French actress, director and screenwriter who has appeared in more than 50 films and television productions since 1986. She studied under Patrice Chéreau in 1985-86 at the Ecole du Thé� ...

) to review with her about what happened yesterday. Benjamin confesses he couldn't do the ECG. Dr. Denormandy tells him that, if someone were to ask him about the matter, he must reply that he actually did the ECG and didn't notice anything abnormal. This case put a strain on Benjamin's relationship with Abdel, as Benjamin told Mr Lemoine's widow that it was actually Abdel who took care of her husband, not him. Meanwhile, Benjamin and Abdel are also taking care of another patient, Mrs Richard ( Jeanne Cellard), an 80-year-old woman, who used to be a gymnast, and now, suffers from a

metastatic Metastasis is a pathogenic agent's spread from an initial or primary site to a different or secondary site within the host's body; the term is typically used when referring to metastasis by a cancerous tumor. The newly pathological sites, then, ...

cancer Cancer is a group of diseases involving abnormal cell growth with the potential to invade or spread to other parts of the body. These contrast with benign tumors, which do not spread. Possible signs and symptoms include a lump, abnormal b ...

and had to go recently through a

femur neck The femoral neck (femur neck or neck of the femur) is a flattened pyramidal process of bone, connecting the femoral head with the femoral shaft, and forming with the latter a wide angle opening medialward. Structure The neck is flattened from ...

surgery. While they are discussing about the appropriate treatment to deliver as well as the level of pain Mrs Richard feels, Abdel decides to install a morphine pump so that she won't suffer anymore. However, it appears that the patient doesn't eat much, which could put her life at risk. Abdel disagrees with Dr. Denormandy concerning the procedure to be followed and accepts reluctanctantly the removal of the morphine pump. During another night shift of Benjamin, the latter is called after Mrs Richard has lost consciousness. As he enters the room, he sees his colleagues trying to resuscitate the patient, which provokes his anger. When Mrs Richard's family, who has been informed by a nurse, arrives, Abdel and Benjamin discuss with them about the possibility to put an end to the life of the patient, in accordance with the Leonetti law. The family accepts, as there is no point in persisting any further and making Mrs Richard suffer. However, Abdel and Benjamin were not supposed to take this decision by themselves, in the middle of the night. Consequently, they are summoned for a disciplinary hearing, attended by Dr. Denormandy, Dr. Barois and the critical care team leader. After discussion, it was decided that Benjamin won't be punished due to his age as well as his emotional state during the events. However, a misconduct statement will be added to Abdel's file, much to the latter's dismay. Indeed, it could probably prevent him from doing other internships, putting an end to his goal of obtaining a certificate of equivalence for his Algerian qualification and so, being allowed to practice as a doctor in France. Benjamin, who, meanwhile, has ended up befriending Abdel, is distraught by this decision, claiming that everything is his fault. One night, after getting drunk, he goes to Mrs Lemoine's place and confesses that they haven't conducted all the necessary examinations that could have prevented the death of her late husband. He then goes to the hospital and starts wrecking the equipments and disturbing the patients before running away from the nurses and security guards. However, after leaving the hospital, he ends up getting hit by a truck. The morning after, after gathering the interns, Dr. Barois and the hospital director inform them that Benjamin has woken up and that Mrs Lemoine is suing the hospital for

medical malpractice Medical malpractice is a legal cause of action that occurs when a medical or health care professional, through a negligent act or omission, deviates from standards in their profession, thereby causing injury or death to a patient. The neglige ...

. Appalled by the news, the medical staff blames the director, claiming that these kinds of errors happen because they are understaffed and that they only have defective equipments. For the very same reasons, they demand the withdrawal of Abdel's sanction, which they obtain. Eventually, Benjamin recovers from his injuries and is happy to learn that Abdel will be able to continue practising. He personally changes service and joins the

neurology Neurology (from el, νεῦρον (neûron), "string, nerve" and the suffix -logia, "study of") is the branch of medicine dealing with the diagnosis and treatment of all categories of conditions and disease involving the brain, the spinal ...

one, gaining back the enthusiastic attitude he had when he started his internship.

Cast

* Vincent Lacoste as Benjamin Barois *

as Abdel Rezzak *

as Dr. Barois *

as Dr. Denormandy *

Félix Moati Félix Moati (born 24 May 1990) is a French actor, film director and screenwriter. He is the son of the journalist and filmmaker Serge Moati Serge Moati (born Henry Moati; 17 August 1946) is a French journalist, television presenter, film direc ...

as Stéphane * Carole Franck as Myriam *

Philippe Rebbot Philippe Rebbot is a French actor. He appeared in more than eighty films since 1998 and starred in several films including The Aquatic Effect, Une famille à louer and Northern Wind. Filmography Personal life In 2004, Rebbot met the actres ...

as Guy * Julie Brochen as Mrs Lemoine * Jeanne Cellard as Mrs Richard * Fanny Sidney as Estelle * Thierry Levaret as Mr Lemoine

References

External links

* 2014 films 2014 drama films French drama films 2010s French-language films Films featuring a Best Supporting Actor César Award-winning performance Films set in Paris Films shot in France Films shot in Paris Films directed by Thomas Lilti 2010s French films {{2010s-France-film-stub