Hard to Believe

Hard to Believe details a crime so horrendous that its perpetrators deny all knowledge of its existence: the illegal harvesting of human organs—specifically by the Chinese government—to fuel an organ transplant industry that grows exponentially each year and caters to the international market. The documentary presents allegations that China harvests organs from political prisoners, expressly from the Falun Gong religious sect (often while they are still alive), and details efforts by the Canadian and Israeli governments and determined doctors and journalists to bring these practices to light, augmented by first-hand accounts from Falun Gong practitioners who escaped unscathed, as well as others. The latter stories are horrifying, particularly the recollections of a former doctor from Xinjiang now working as a bus driver in London who participated in rushed removals of organs from live, non-anesthetized prisoners, all of whom were left to die at the conclusion of the procedures. Equally disturbing are the documented instances of willful ignorance by the media and world governments of efforts to expose the alleged human rights abuses. Also including a study guide, this illuminating, often deeply unsettling PBS-aired documentary is highly recommended. Aud: C, P. (P. Morehart)