DOXA favourite Penny Lane (The Pain of Others, Nuts!, Our Nixon) returns with her most personal film to date. Confessions of a Good Samaritan follows Lane herself as she embarks on a journey to donate one of her kidneys. She is a so-called “altruistic donor”—an individual donating their organ to a stranger for no financial remuneration. Lane reasons that she can live without one of her kidneys, and that by giving it away she can save someone’s life. Who wouldn’t donate when faced with such a simple calculation? Most people, it turns out. Lane talks to doctors, psychologists, philosophers and fellow donors to understand why such a natural and logical decision for her is so unusual to so many others. Along the way, she learns about the history and future of organ transplants, spurring reflections on her own life and choices. Through her journey, Lane maintains a sense of humour and a carefully balanced tone that never feels like moralizing. The film captures Lane’s signature irreverence, while raising deeply serious ethical questions. -JC