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Why Penny Lane Gave Her Kidney to a Stranger

Penny Lane | Sandbox Films

Filmmaker Penny Lane’s 2023 documentary is about giving away one of her own kidneys. Although she didn't like the idea of calling herself a "good Samaritan," she eventually came around to the idea of calling her film “Confessions of a Good Samaritan.”

It’s rare for anyone to donate a kidney, and most of the time, the organ goes to someone close to the donor, like a spouse, a sibling or a parent. Altruistic kidney donation — the kind Lane did — is when you give the organ to a complete stranger. That kind of gift is even rarer, so much so that lots of people question the motives of the donor. Lane herself went through a rigorous screening to become eligible for the procedure. Along the way, she learned the history of kidney donation and met others who’ve made the choice to give a kidney to someone they’d never know or meet. Again and again, she encountered the same idea: It’s not a question of why anyone would give away a kidney,  it’s why wouldn’t you? Penny Lane joins us to talk about her film. 

We’re screening “Confessions of a Good Samaritan” in partnership with the Utah Film Center on Wednesday, March 11, at 7 p.m. Tickets are free but you’ll need to RSVP. You’ll find the details here.

GUEST
Penny Lane is a documentary filmmaker. She has produced eight feature documentaries, including “Confessions of a Good Samaritan.”

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