Julia Haslett has confronted her share of suffering, not only in her work as a filmmaker but in her own family. Her father committed suicide when she was 17, and today her brother endures recurring bouts of severe depression. Looking for moral guidance, Haslett turned to French philosopher Simone Weil, who sought, in both her writings and her life, to formulate an ethical response to others people’s anguish. Unable to stand by while others suffered, Weil eventually starved herself to death in England in 1943, limiting her daily intake to the short rations doled out in occupied France. Spurred by her reading, Haslett eventually takes a daring step, hiring an actress to extensively research and then embody Weil in an interview with the filmmaker. In doing so, she not only offers a fascinating portrait of the philosopher, but also raises the question of what constitutes an authentic representation. The film also reminds us of our own complicity when we witness the torment of others, an issue that is particularly pertinent for documentary filmmakers and audiences alike.  ST