The documentary ‘Living in Emergency: Stories of Doctors Without Borders' is a compelling film. It casts a realistic look at a non-government organisation's work in conflict zones of Africa and the toll it can take on aid workers.Filmmaker Mark Hopkins shows how doctors from Médecins Sans Frontières in Liberia and Democratic Republic of Congo navigate their way through harsh conditions and medical frustrations.MSF is an international humanitarian aid organisation that provides emergency medical assistance to populations in danger in more than 60 countries. It is based in countries in crisis; the charity does not remain to provide general health care once the situation has stabilised. The doctors often perform operations with basic equipment. Sometimes they go without oxygen in operations, other times they are low on gloves or medicine and sometimes they just don't have enough hours in the day to deal with the barrage of injured, sick and dying people who stream into their free emergency centre.But more than showing the good work MSF does, which is obvious, the film explores the toll it takes on those who perform the good deeds.During the course of the film the doctors question whom they are helping, if they are making a difference and the ulterior motives behind why some become involved in aid work.At times some of the fresh recruits seem on the verge, or possibly over it, of cracking up. One particular Australian physician's situation was likened to Joseph Conrad's ‘Heart of Darkness' novel.The Australian was sent, alone, far from base camp to run a clinic during his first mission with the charity. He isn't featured on the documentary's website, perhaps because he was not pleased with the less than flattering depiction of him feeling hopeless and angry.Another person the film focuses on is a doctor, Christopher Brasher, who has been through numerous missions over the course of nine years. He is burned out and left feeling anchorless due to constantly relocating to different missions. Another doctor, Tom Krueger, acknowledges that he was spurred on to take part in the mission to fulfill long dormant ideals that being a doctor was a calling and MSF made him feel better about himself.What I enjoyed about the documentary is that it is not full of NGO preachers and instead looks at the very real struggles, highs and lows felt by many working in aid organisations in poorer countries. I also left feeling that although none of them had the answers on how to solve the problems surrounding genocide, world hunger and underdeveloped nations many of the doctors had the right attitude, that by fixing one broken bone at a time they are doing their part and at the same time fixing themselves.