Circles

Single father Eric Butler and his son arrive in West Oakland, after being displaced by Hurricane Katrina, where Eric takes a job reimagining approaches to school discipline and implementing a better system at a continuation high school. Eric christens a space in what was formerly the detention room - now "the Restorative Justice Room" - where students are made to feel safe and supported to speak openly; and expect to be heard. In this space, Eric brings in patience to build trust and sees the potential of all youth, especially those on the margins, to succeed. But when Eric's son, Tre, is engulfed by the same punitive systems that his father is up against, Eric must confront a painful realization; it becomes impossible to leave “the work” comfortably at the school’s door. (Nashville Film Festival)