A Better Man

In light of the "Times Up" and "Me Too" movements, this documentary produced by actress-turned-director Sarah Polley and co-directed by Attiya Khan and Lawrence Jackman couldn’t be more timely. The film begins in the corner of a Toronto coffee shop as Khan calmly interrogates a man named Steve who physically abused her 20 years before. When they met, she was 16 and he was 18. Steve admits that what he did "wasn't good," but his memories are seemingly comparatively fuzzy. "I remember choking you," he admits, but doesn't recall other incidents. In her voiceover, Khan expresses surprise that he agreed to participate, but Steve said he was hoping to help prevent other men from choosing violence. After their conversation, Steve meets with Tod Augusta-Scott, a domestic violence therapist and restorative justice advocate, telling the latter about hitting Khan and calling her derogatory names, including "Paki." Khan then joins Steve for a joint session in which she tells Augusta-Scott about the lowest points in their two-year relationship, such as the times that Steve put the "sleeper" on her—i.e., strangled her until she passed out. Afterward, the pair visit their high school and the apartments they shared. Since this is a film about healing, the filmmakers intercut scenes of Khan in acupuncture sessions, socializing with friends, and at home with her partner and son. The point is clear: she's moving on. It's an open question whether Steve will be able to do the same, but he's clearly made a start. Recommended. Aud: C, P. (K. Fennessy)