Doug Bruce

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Doug Bruce is the subject of Rupert Murray's 2005 documentary film Unknown White Male.

Bruce suffers from an extremely rare, and possibly purely psychological, form of retrograde amnesia. This has left his episodic memory blank for his entire life prior to the onset of the amnesia. Bruce first became aware of his post-amnesia self when he 'awakened' on a New York subway train, with no recollection of who he was, including his name, his life experiences, family, friends, home, and work. He contacted the police and was rapidly admitted to a hospital psychiatric ward, where, with no name to use, 'Unknown White Male' was written on his hospital medical charts and records. After a few days he was connected with a friend whose mother's phone number was found inside a book in his possession. Little else was found on him other than some dog medicine; he had no wallet, bank cards, or other identifying documents at all. The friend identified the 'Unknown White Male' as 'Doug Bruce', a prosperous Englishman who had formerly been a successful banker in New York, and was now studying for a degree in photography at a New York university.

From that point on he did not deny that he was Doug Bruce, but this 'identity' had little emotional attachment to him. Shown pictures of himself, he would believe it was him but feel no connection with the images beyond curiosity.

Due of the rarity of Bruce's form of amnesia, and inconsistencies in his story, there have been claims that the film is a hoax. The filmmakers and subject deny this and the hoax claims have been discredited as the creation of the overly cynical and conspiracy theorist minded individuals.

Rupert Murray's documentary film Unknown White Male is thought to be a uniquely filmed exploration into the phenomenon of amnesia from the perspective of the amnesiac, and it includes video film footage which Bruce filmed himself beginning within a week of the start of his amnesia. While telling Bruce's story, the film explores this unusual medical condition, and the nature of what makes us an 'individual'.

[edit] External links

• Doug Bruce at the Internet Movie Database
• Is it a hoax?
• A Trip Down Memory Lane (Washington Post)
• New Man (The New Yorker)