The Worst Thing by Desireena Almoradie. For more information and to view the full film: worstthingfilm.com
ARTIST STATEMENT
The film follows the restorative justice journey of Kathleen Pequeño, aided by restorative justice facilitator Annett Zupke. In the film, Kathleen travels several times to Germany to engage in dialogue with former members of the Red Army Faction, a violent leftist group that was responsible for her brother’s murder. The film demonstrates restorative justice practices in action, specifically focusing on surrogate dialogues. The film’s message is that restorative justice is never a straightforward, quick process, but rather requires dedication and most importantly support from a restorative justice facilitator sensitive to both sides and can carefully guide the dialogues towards a productive experience for both parties. The film also shows that restorative justice in action can be very messy — we hear from Kathleen’s sister who is adamantly against the process, and we witness a dialogue that does not progress towards a satisfying resolution. Still, the film’s message is hopeful — it ends with a nod towards the new friendships that Kathleen has developed with former Red Army Faction members, and the continued evolution of her relationships with them. The film shows that restorative justice is an ongoing process that requires patience and openness, and that it is not a one-stop solution to conflict and violence.
