A documentary that shows some other alternatives rather than completely trashing the system(which it does and it should). As someone who knows how the system works on a general delineation level, pretty informative and more disheartening to learn more of the specifics within that outline.Almost any situation one asks him/herself 'why did they do this or that, or they should do this or that'(the government on any topic), you can almost always have the answer, "For the money and/or follow the money/and they won't do anything if there is no profit in it for them".It's true where the corporations run the system. If it were different, we would all get a little bit more of a slice, but the market research in the United States is very clever. I mean that in the sense where people are given just enough to be satisfied, given any less, and we might have a revolution on our hands.Other countries have never quite understood that concept ergo they have the struggles that they have. It would take years with chaos, perhaps revolution and struggle to turn it around to where the Corporations don't have their power. It might be impossible though as well. So if it's impossible, why not work the system then. That's what I like about this documentary in which it's stating it may not be possible to turn it around but if we work the system, then the system will have to take notice. That working the system in being an escape fire.Getting Wellness, and prevention of illness programs as a part of our health care/our insurance policies. Advocating at workplaces(as it's starting to become now more)wellness and incentives on insurance for staying healthy. Bringing yoga and meditation into our daily lives as it truly helps ones health and soul. Getting acupuncture on our plans at a reasonable rate as acupuncture truly is a great benefit. Giving the alternative health care to all people(as is starting to be the case). All in all, basically changing the way our system is which our system is to medicate the problem but not to get to the root of the problem.As on the war on drugs, billions of dollars have been spent putting people in jail for drug crimes, yet to this day, drugs are still being sold and used at the same rate as they were years ago before the billions of dollars were spent. Why is that? Because they don't do anything for the prevention of the problem, they just hide it away. Same with the health care system, medicating us just temporarily hides the wound, but does nothing for it to ultimately get better. Why is all this done you ask, 'for the money'.If we fight for these alternative preventions in health care and anything else that needs dealt with, and turn the tide around showing there is money to be made for the corporations in doing these alternatives, then they will do it. They don't care about us or our health or who gets thrown in jail, but they care about money, so if money is in it for them, they will do it.This is a good documentary to see for bringing all of this to a head.

As one 'professional' critic wrote: "This is a statistics rich documentary that uses numbers and talking head interviews to tell us something that is plain common sense. "Well, if it is such common sense then why is it so eye-opening and why is the US drowning in pills and excessive costs? We appear to need more than common sense to make the common sense changes in the 2.7 Trillion Dollar US disease treatment industry. It is not a call for single payer or national health-care, it is a call of responsible action.This documentary is both educational and emotional it shows, in a very accessible manner, why we are in this mess (from Earl Butz to reimbursement policy) and what we can do within the current system and to change the current system. Much of the focus is on individual choice (by doctors, by patients, by organizations . Well done and beautifully presented. Watch it. Weep. Make changes. Feel better.

As a person working in health care education, I think Escape Fire, the documentary film, shines a strong steady light on the powerful dark matter of medicine.Personal stories of patients seeking care are interwoven with expert commentary from heads of government, insurance companies, doctors and journalists. While the call that US health care is broken seems old, the stories shown here are shocking and new. They uncover why it is broken and how it can heal. The stress points that are breaking seem to be about focusing on sick-care instead of health care.A heart surgeon exposes what he names "perverse economic incentives" that reward doctors for doing procedures, instead of rewarding them when patients become healthier. A former head of a health insurance company visits a US remote areal medical service - where people come from miles around to line up for free care in sheds and tents - and he has a crisis of conscience. A doctor shows research evidence that reducing stress reverses heart disease, and then forms teams of physicians, psychologists, nutritionists and yoga instructors to help patients heal.One patient in the ER for heart disease talks to the doctor about when he'll change to a heart health diet. For him, it will be when he knows what's wrong with him. Education about what causes leading chronic health problems is missing from our schools. And the movie Escape Fire points out that preventative care and nutrition education are also lacking in most doctors' educations too.This new movie is not all gloom and doom, far from it. With a focus on healthy living, healthy foods, keeping active and reducing stress with yoga and meditation, the film makers give us a great big dose of hope. One patient portrait is of a veteran, Sgt Yates, who served in Afghanistan and returned with PTSD and back injuries, unable to walk. He is transformed and says, "I'm not changed, but I'm changing".This movie made me want to change too, and take more responsibility for my own health. We needed health care reform, now we need a health care revolution, with each patient being part of the change.

I saw Escape Fire at Full Frame Film Festival in Durham. Every viewer I spoke to after the showing was moved and excited by Escape Fire.As someone who is working on health care reform in the context of Single Payer/Medicare for All I have recommended Escape Fire to all of my friends, family, and to my cohorts in the health care reform effort. Our group is hoping to have a showing in our area soon.I'm a veteran and was deeply touched by the way the soldiers in the movie were portrayed. It's a sad commentary that our health care system is so far behind in recognizing so-called alternative healing practices. This movie highlights their value in a very positive way.Escape Fire has the potential to change the debate on health care reform. We need for it to be seen at mainstream theaters across the nation.