Physician, Heal Thyself

Dr Gabor Maté has become one of the world’s most influential thinkers about addiction, trauma and childhood development on the back of books like In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts, The Myth of Normal and When the Body Says No. He’s pioneered the idea of Compassionate Inquiry as a therapeutic approach, and worked for over a decade on Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside.

In Asher Penn’s Physician, Heal Thyself Dr Maté shares not only his theories, but also his personal story: his difficult early childhood in Hungary, immigrating to Canada, his experience as a journalist for the Ubyssey, and his early reputation as a contrarian. Maté candidly discusses his own struggles with pain, his complicated behaviours and fractured relationships. Physician, Heal Thyself offers hope and comfort, encouraging us to own our failings, share our struggles, and accept our imperfections.

Oct 11, 1:00 pm screening*: Q&A with Gabor Maté & filmmaker Asher Penn; moderated by Am Johal, Director of Community Engagement at SFU’s Vancity Office of Community Engagement & VIFF Board Chair

*The Q&A had to be rescheduled. Our printed calendar is incorrect. The Q&A will be happening at the Oct 11, 1:00 pm screening only.

A probing look at the origin story of an influential mind. Maté’s philosophy comes from a deep understanding of trauma and a personal recognition of the violence that addiction brings on one’s own life. His thoughtful account positions himself as the subject of his own medicine, proof that healing is a long and multi-faceted journey. Even if the film has only one voice, it feels appropriately ’whole’.

Pat Mullen, POV magazine

Family movies and other bits of ephemera contribute to the story—including director Asher Penn’s simple but expressive animations—but it’s the sometimes self-lacerating words and the visible emotions of Gabor Maté that viewers will remember of this exceptional documentary.

Adrian Mack, Stir