Hippocrate (2014)
Directed by Thomas Lilti

Film Synopsis

Benjamin Barois is 23 and as he embarks on his internship as a trainee doctor in his father's practice he is confident that he has a great career ahead of him.  Unfortunately, the practicalities of his chosen profession prove to be far more challenging than the theory and it isn't long before Benjamin begins to have second thoughts about his career choice.  It doesn't help that he has a serious rival in Abdel Rezzak, an Algerian intern who appears to be temperamentally far better suited to this line of work than he is.  Whilst on night duty, Benjamin has an opportunity to prove his mettle by tending to Monsieur Lemoine, a homeless man suffering from acute back pains.  His good intentions prove to be extremely negligent and the unfortunate man dies as a result of his intervention.

It is not the most promising of starts to the young man's medical career and immediately he feels intimidated by his superiors, who are clearly waiting for just one more slip up so that they can dispense with his services.  Benjamin's already antagonistic relationship with his Algerian rival deteriorates even further when he tries to persuade Lemoine's widow that it was Abdel who caused the death of her husband.  The fate of the two trainee doctors could well be decided by their next patient, an elderly cancer victim who is in severe pain following an operation.  Aware that the old woman's condition is unlikely to improve, Benjamin and Abdel agree that she should be put out of her misery.  Despite their humanitarian motives, they end up overstepping the line and face serious consequences...