Breaking Bows and Arrows (2001)

• 85%
• 2001
• Documentary
• Liz Thompson

On the island of Bougainville in Papua New Guinea, victims and perpetrators are coming together in traditionally based reconciliation ceremonies after a decade long civil war left the community bitterly divided. In the largest reconciliation ceremony yet to take, BBA follows fighters who have killed each others families as they come together to break bows and arrows in a traditional gesture of peace. On a more personal journey Francis Boisivere retrieves the bones of a chief he killed, ceremonially returning them to the bereaved wife, Immaculate Atorevi . He seeks forgiveness , she a release from the hatred she harbours.