Operation Life

Production and year: Poland, 2011 Directors: Grzegorz Siedlecki, Magdalena Kobierczyka, Dagmara Szymańska-Szymura Screenplay: Robert Kęder Narrator: Krystyna Czubówna Genre: Documentary Description: Operation Life is a documentary series produced by Telewizja Polska, aimed at raising awareness of transplantology in Poland. In the series, which follows the stories of people awaiting transplants and their families, life and death are separated by a fine line. It is a sad, yet undeniable fact that in most cases in transplantology, one person must die so that another can receive a chance at a new life through an organ transplant. Although transplantology offers patients real hope for a new life, many of its positive effects have often been overshadowed by scandals and slander that have been sensationalized in the media. As a result, there has been a great deal of controversy surrounding transplantation, rooted in ignorance. We fear what we do not know. That is why, as the series’ creators say, one of its goals is to dispel doubts and highlight the positive aspects of organ transplantation, thereby helping society become more comfortable with the issue of transplantation. It is also important to encourage viewers to discuss with their closest family members the possibility of organ donation in the event of brain death. It is worth noting that the series’ screenwriter, Robert Kęder, has been living with a transplanted liver for 11 years and is a member of the “Life After Transplantation” association. He understands patients awaiting a transplant better than the viewers do. This series is, in a sense, a phenomenon due to the long-standing tendency of the medical community to avoid the media, which, in my opinion, is justified. The producers plan to produce 13 episodes.