Charlie Teo

On the 26th of August 2003, Australian Story aired a documentary depicting the celebrated and controversial career of Sydney neurosurgeon Charlie Teo, dubbed with acute accuracy "The Trouble With Charlie." "The Trouble With would have been more precise.

Like most classic episodes from Australian Story, this documentary delves deep into the steepest depths of Teo's career, his radical approach to brain cancer and the scandal it has caused in amongst his peers and patients alike. Themes of morals and ethics, sentiment, and death, or merely the delay of deaths time, underline and carry this documentary along to a celebratory finish.

An introduction from Caroline Jones [produced by Ben Cheshire] describes Dr Teo as "about as far removed as you can get from the conventional white-gowned image of a surgeon." This statement is fitting positioned at the beginning, as it is a base for the documentary to grow, and on a whole is the most reoccurring theme throughout.

The trouble with "The Trouble With Charlie" is that the director did not make full use of available opportunities to use camera shots to full effect. Often camera shots are at a standstill and are unmoving, which can lead to the viewer to lose interest. This lack of creative camera techniques, however, is made up in the genuine thought-stimulating film footage used. However despite this flaw, there are but of course other areas where brilliant cinematographic opportunities are taken full advantage of. At times when Teo discusses the more difficult aspects of his career and the emotional toll it leaves on him, the film makers seize the moment and use close-up shots to great effect; it captures moments not often seen by outsiders. Most of the time, however, wide angled shots are used to incorporate all the lively aspects of Teo's profession; that is, operating rooms, surgical procedures etc.

The documentary alternates between personal commentaries by Teo and people of whom have featured predominantly in his life, ranging from his peers though to his patients and their families. Most significant, however, are the messages left form patients of Teo's who have survived as a result of his exceptional neurosurgery skills and brave heart, or have had their life prolonged from malignant tumours. "The Trouble With Charlie" demonstrates Teo's bond with his patients, a relationship which he too comments on: "When you're digging in or delving into someone's brain, you are getting into the true essence of that person," which can be interpreted as a very emotional connection also. Judging by this documentary and the topics and themes that are presented it is evident that Charlie lives by the principle that a doctor should