Abstract
At a time when health care dominates the news, there is a strong sense that good health is all about access to doctors, hospitals, medicine, and insurance. This thought-provoking and insightful documentary demonstrates otherwise. Using incisive case studies from around the world, it explores how people’s health and well-being is primarily determined by where they live, their educational, social, and economic status, and the degree of control they have over their lives. The film illustrates that these are the true roots of health – though generally overlooked in the contentious national debate over health care – and they can be improved dramatically for whole communities through social and political action. Roots of Health features three powerful stories filmed in London, England, Ahmedabad, India, and Oakland, California. Each story looks at the socio-economic conditions that contribute to illness, and how people can take charge of their own lives and health.