Hospital (Wiseman retrospective)
In late January of 2025, Film at Lincoln Center kicked off 'Frederick Wiseman: An American Institution,' a retrospective of the great documentarian's works restored in 4K, beginning with his 1967 debut "Titicut Folies." The retrospective will be making its way around the country in various forms. One of the featured films is his fourth, 1969's "Hospital."
Laura's Review: A-
It is surprising to realize that Wiseman, still an active filmmaker today, once created films under 90 minutes, his more recent efforts usually clocking in around 3 hours or more. Although "Hospital" is only 84 minutes, Wiseman covers so much ground as he traverses New York's Metropolitan Hospital in East Harlem, the shorter run time does not equate to a less all-encompassing narrative. Wiseman's technique hasn't really changed over more than fifty years, the director finding small stories, then applying them to a larger canvas with the expert editing that makes for a sweeping narrative of the larger picture. And that's just what he does within New York's Metropolitan Hospital.
Shooting in black and white 16mm in a 1.33 : 1 boxy aspect ratio, we first hear the sound of gasping medical equipment as a patient is prepped in the operating room. People on gurneys and in wheelchairs are gathered together. A doctor questions and assures a distraught black woman about her mother, a stroke victim who's suffered a setback. A barely comprehensible black man tells another doctor the large surgery scar on his stomach is for acute alcoholism. A disheveled white man is questioned about how much heroin he's taken.
We're impressed by the compassion and patience shown by the staff (although the presence of the camera must also be considered). The more instances of doctor/patient contact we witness, we realize that this is a hospital that treats the patients spurned by others, those with no money or problematic insurance. One doctor almost grits his teeth as he calls the hospital which transferred an upper GI bleeder to them without any documentation whatsoever, endangering her life in the process. Later we'll see a NYPD officer bemoan the fact that a woman waiting hours for treatment is about to be sent elsewhere for lack of beds. A senior citizen tells a nurse that she refuses to go on government assistance, but that Blue Cross Blue Shield has refused her coverage. An older immigrant in poor health with bad teeth is examined by a female doctor who insists he should feel no embarrassment about describing a urinary issue, then offers to get to the bottom of it, get him dental care and asks if he'd be more comfortable with a male doctor. A heroic older psychiatrist goes to bat for a young schizophrenic homosexual refused public assistance while assuring the young man who believes he is 'abnormal' that he is, in fact, fine. We'll see an administrator try to convince a man he needs to stay in the hospital despite his desire to return to his three children, aged 7-11, telling him she'll arrange for their care and a nurse try to find a bed for a little boy left in the 'care' of an intoxicated grandmother who didn't realize where he was.
Wiseman briefly shows us ambulances pulling up in the evening hours, cleaning staff making the rounds, a doctor with a number of interns (the Metropolitan is associated with New York Medical College) and a nurse delivering medications. A late episode with a young man panicking over a drug he was given in the park makes us wonder if he signed a waiver (or, in fact, needed to), given our extended view of the man upchucking until the floor he is standing on is awash in vomit. From there, we'll be delivered to a chapel service along with patients and staff before a final, exterior view of the hospital shot from the median strip of the highway that runs past it. "Hospital" is an amazing document of how things have changed over the years and how they haven't and a testament to caring professionals who try to work an often unwielding system to actually help people.
Robin's Review: B+
Right now, we are in the midst of a Boston-wide (and beyond) Frederick Wiseman retrospective of the man’s copious documentary film output of some 50 features over 60+ years.
In 1970, Frederick Wiseman and his tiny crew made a documentary foray into the Metropolitan Hospital Center in NYC. His fly-on-the-wall cameras concentrated, mainly, on the ER and outpatient services and shows how we really need quality healthcare in our visit to the “Hospital.”
This film came out at a time of turmoil in America. The Vietnam War raged and the protests here at home dominated the hearts and minds of America. So, comes along Wiseman and his incredible ability to have his camera presence accepted by his subjects, allowing for incredibly candid moments.
As said, the documentary concentrated on the ER and outpatient services, but there is much more to “Hospital” during its succinct 84 minute runtime. Anyone familiar with the veteran documentarian will note how he expanded his film running times to the three hour range in recent years. That Wiseman packed so much information in such a short film tells reams about the man’s ability.
The subjects of “Hospital” vary from staff – who are aware of the needs of their patients, whether that patient knows it or not – to the variety of patients. They are of all ages but are primarily the underserved in our society – mentally challenged, language barriers, fear of immigration officials, drug abusers and more all show up at the hospital for care.
The most impressive thing about the staff of the Metropolitan is their dedication to their patients. These medicos go the extra measure to treat and protect their patients – like a young boy admitted because his grandmother/guardian was too drunk to come and get him. The doctors, nurses, administrators and the rest of the staff do whatever is needed, often beyond their ken.
It is interesting to watch the early works of a director that I have come to know, respect and expect great things. Now, over 50 years later, he’s still got it, though he has announced his retirement. I guess the man deserves a break about now.
Film at Lincoln Center kicked off a Wiseman retrospective on 1/31/25. Cambridge, Ma's Brattle Theater begins to feature it on 3/6/25. Boston's Museum of Fine Arts features two of his films beginning 3/1/25. Here is the complete Boston-wide celebration calendar.
