“A highly compassionate look at intimate partner violence that makes clear abusers need help, not just societal censure… a beautiful film that dives into deep waters…” – The Globe and Mail
“A Better Man is a film so powerful, it could prevent future victims.” – Maclean’s
November 23, 2018 – Toronto – National Film Board of Canada (NFB)
Starting today, Canadians can stream Attiya Khan and Lawrence Jackman’s acclaimed Intervention Productions/National Film Board of Canada (NFB) feature documentary A Better Man—a powerful look at how healing can happen when men take responsibility for their domestic abuse—free of charge at NFB.ca and the NFB’s YouTube channel.
A Better Man is premiering online as part of UN Women’s 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence Campaign (#16days), which begins November 25.
A Better Man is also available for download-to-own (DTO) in Canada on NFB.ca and iTunes, and will soon be available internationally for DTO from iTunes and Amazon. In the US, DVDs and educational purchases can be made through Women Make Movies.
Educators can access A Better Man through CAMPUS, the NFB’s online education portal, with an NFB study guide also publicly available at NFB.ca/education. Resources are also available at abettermanfilm.com/resources, including discussion guides for men hosting their own viewing groups as well as a guide created in partnership with the Canadian Labour Congress that helps unions discuss A Better Man and domestic violence with their members.
A Better Man is being featured at community screenings around the world. To bring the film to your community, visit abettermanfilm.com/screenings.
About the film
On a hot summer night 22 years ago, 18-year-old Attiya ran through the streets, frightened for her life. She was fleeing her ex-boyfriend Steve, who’d been abusing her on a daily basis. Now, all these years later, Attiya has asked Steve to meet. She wants to know how he remembers their relationship and if he is willing to take responsibility for his violent actions.
This emotionally raw first meeting, filmed by Attiya with Steve’s consent, is the starting point for A Better Man. The rough footage also marks a new beginning in Attiya’s own recovery process—as well as an important starting point for Steve. For the first time ever, he speaks of the abuse and cracks opens the door to dealing with the past.
Illuminating a new paradigm for domestic-violence prevention, A Better Man offers a fresh and nuanced look at the healing and revelation that can happen for everyone involved when men take responsibility for their abuse. It also empowers audience members to play new roles in challenging domestic violence, whether it’s in their own relationships or as part of a broader movement for social change.
A Top 20 Audience Favourite at Hot Docs and the winner of the Sabeen Mahmud Award for Courage in Cinema from the Mosaic International South Asian Film Festival, A Better Manis produced by Christine Kleckner for Intervention Productions and Justine Pimlott for the NFB’s Ontario Studio, based in Toronto. The executive producers are Sarah Polley, Kathy Avrich-Johnson and Janice Dawe. The NFB executive producer for A Better Man is Anita Lee. Jane Jankovic is the executive producer for TVO.
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Promotional Material
Electronic Press Kit | Images, trailer, credits, synopsis: A Better Man
A Better Man website
Associated Links
TVO
Intervention Productions
16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence
Women Make Movies
NFB’s playlist – films on gender-based violence