A Better Man (film)
| A Better Man | |
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| Directed by | Attiya Khan Lawrence Jackman |
| Produced by | Christine Kleckner Justine Pimlott |
| Written by | Attiya Khan Lawrence Jackman |
| Music by | Lesley Barber |
| Cinematography | Iris Ng |
| Edited by | Lawrence Jackman |
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Production
companies |
Intervention Productions
National Film Board of Canada |
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Release date
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Running time
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79 minutes |
| Country | Canada |
A Better Man is a 2017 Canadian documentary film co-directed by Attiya Khan and Lawrence Jackman in which Khan, a survivor of domestic abuse as well as a domestic abuse counselor, meets with her former abuser to see if he can take responsibility for his actions. The first filmed encounter between her and her ex-boyfriend, identified only as "Steve," took place in April 2013. Several of the sessions were facilitated by Tod Augusta-Scott, a fellow counselor. The film also follows them back to their old high school as well as an apartment in Ottawa, and shows how the violence still affects Khan. It is co-produced by Intervention Productions (prod. Christine Kleckner) and the National Film Board of Canada (prod. Justine Pimlott).
After leaving Steve when she was 19, Khan would continue to encounter him in public. The first time she saw him, two years after she left him, Khan was weak and speechless. But as they continued to meet by chance over a six-year period, and her life continued to improve, they'd exchange a few minutes of small talk. It was during such chance encounter in 2011 that Steve asked if they could sit down. Once seated, Steve repeatedly apologized before bursting into tears.
In the ensuing years, Khan wondered if talking to Steve more might help her deal with her trauma, and help Steve to better understand the roots and consequences of his violence and make him less likely to reoffend. She also decided to try to record such a dialogue as a resource for both domestic abuse survivors and offenders. She proposed such an idea to Steve in 2013. Six months later, he texted her that he was ready to meet. Two days later, they did so at a coffee shop for their first recorded exchange. Khan and her ex-abuser would go on film eight days together over the course of a year, sharing their memories and experiences and with Steve facing the consequences of what he did.
Khan has stated that since completing the film she thinks about the abuse less often and has fewer episodes of post-traumatic stress. She hopes the film can persuade others that engaging in a restorative justice process can help to keep some survivors safe. A Better Man had its world premiere at the Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival., where the festival took the extra measure of having therapists available.
The film's executive producers are Sarah Polley, Anita Lee, Jane Jankovic, Janice Dawe and Kathy Aurich-Johnson. Music is by Lesley Barber. Iris Ng is the film's cinematographer, having previously worked with Polly on Stories We Tell.
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