It’ s always nice when others take hold of concepts that one holds dear.
Following on the restorative justice theme over the last week on this blog (and its not even restorative justice week yet!), a new movie was released in Australia last week, “Face To Face“. It is framed around a centerpiece of restorative justice process, the community conference.
The movie synopsis:
“From Australia’s most acclaimed playwright, David Williamson, a moving and powerful new film about lies, betrayal, sex and bullying in the workplace. A young construction worker rams into the back of his boss’s Jaguar in a fit of anger at being sacked. Rather than fronting court, he’s given the chance to explain his actions in a community conference. This face-to-face confrontation between the young man, his boss, his boss’s wife, co-workers, best mate and mother lifts the lid not only on his dysfunctional life but on their workplace dirty laundry, turning all of their lives upside down.”
Here’s the trailer (video not displaying? click here):
So what?
Change happens through conversations. Conversations transform us.
Resolving workplace conflict via sitting in a circle, and conversation, using a community conferencing model, is not the norm in any workplace I’ve been exposed to… yet.
Me thinks its a good thing when this community/restorative approach fills a larger stage; by leveraging popular mass media + a talented, creative collaboration.
I look forward to seeing this film. Will it give a boost to the deployment of authentic community conferencing and restorative justice practice? I don’t know.
What’s your take… on the role of popular media & spreading Good News; e.g., community/restorative justice?
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Its good to see restorative justice is making its way onto the big and little screen as a topic of importance!
Agreed, Kendra. I’m looking forward to seeing the film when it shows, locally. And, looking at your blog, I see you’re doing some interesting, and creative, RJ and circle work. That’s great. Thanks for connecting.