A Healing River is an excellent training resource for introducing groups to restorative justice. Designed to be viewed either in segments or at one time, it deals with issues such as trauma, recovery, and the psychology of the restorative process. The 84-minute documentary uses the voices of practitioners, victims and offenders to explore the meaning and values of restorative justice.

For example, the film begins with a participant describing his experience in a circle process for a juvenile who had committed vandalism in his small community. He recalls how several community members gave the juvenile a hard time. Then one voice of compassion and understanding for the young offender opened the door for a positive outcome for all.

Prison inmates' stories give a picture of life inside prison and the potential for individual transformation. One talks about the violence he encountered in a US prison and his desire for something different. He describes the effectiveness of programmes such as Alternatives to Violence can have. Another prisoner tells of when he was transferred from a juvenile detention facility into an adult prison. He describes the ways that prison staff demonstrated they truly cared about him, and how that provided a human connection that helped him learn to change.

A victim shares the experience of losing her mother in a house fire, and the confusion that resulted as different stories circulated after the event. Her desire for answers led her to seek a restorative encounter with the offender. She recounts how the mediation process not only helped her understand what actually happened, but also gave her a sense of safety and the opportunity to see the offender as a human being, willing and able to move beyond his past.

These personal experiences are intermixed with comments from practitioners and academics discussing the problems in the criminal justice system and the potential of restorative justice to foster change.  Individuals featured in the film include Kay Pranis, Barry Stuart, Sandy Bryce, Joe Solanto, Donald Nathanson, Harold and Phil Gatensby, Sandi Bergen, Dave Gustafson, Lize Elliot, Celine Lee, Deltonia Cook and Warren Glowatski. A 24-page discussion guide with comments and ideas for generating conversation is included with the film.

The film can be ordered from Heartspeak Productions, www.heartspeakproductions.ca.
 
 
Lynette Parker
September 2005