There is a movement gathering momentum throughout western society determined to draw attention and deliver hope to the increasing number of children facing the world without the loving guidance of a father. The devastating effects of fatherlessness are powerfully captured in a multi-award winning film to be presented in Perth on June 29.
Absent, produced by US Director Justin Hunt, is a powerful and moving 90-minute documentary testifying to the individual and social ramifications inflicted by fatherlessness.
“The father wound is so deep and so all-pervasive in so many parts of the world that its healing could well be the most radical social reform conceivable,” Hunt says. “Not only here in the West, but across the globe, disengaged fathers are leaving a mark that will forever reshape the future of our planet.”
The documentary, which includes big name subjects such as US heavy metal rock band Metallica frontman, James Hetfield, has touched a nerve and evoked widespread interest; so far it has screened in 33 countries, featured at 18 film festivals and taken out six awards.
The “Bring Back Fatherhood” Tour which will take the film across Australia from June 13–29 will culminate with two free public viewings in Perth.
One of the tour’s Australian organisers, Darren Lewis, told The Record the response to the forthcoming film has been “overwhelming”.
“When we first began to investigate sources of support last October it was tough ground to plough,” he shared.
“But once people realised how powerful this film is and how vital the issue is to current and future generations, the level of involvement from groups across the country has been amazing.”
Lewis describes the documentary as a stepping stone to drawing attention to the irrevocable mark fathers leave on their children, whether positive or negative.
“We want this tour to broaden public awareness of the widespread ramifications,” he said.
“We want the film to become a vehicle for the way forward and that is why we will be providing information and ideas at the conclusion of each of the viewing sessions, informing people how they can take the next step.”
Lewis said he was surprised at the number of women expressing interest in the film and emphasised how important it was to open the eyes of both sexes to understand the importance of fathers in the lives of their children.
Lewis, the founder of ‘Fathering Adventures’, a Queensland organisation dedicated to nurturing and restoring father/child relationships, is excited by the attention accumulating over recent years.
When he was named Queensland Father of the Year in 2011, Lewis said the media response was minimal.
“I wasn’t disappointed for my sake,” he shared, “but I realised the importance of fatherhood was not being acknowledged. To now see the interest building with Absent is a reflection of a growing awareness.”
It’s an awareness that has seen the tour dates almost double since initial planning, with 19 viewings now scheduled and the possibility of more.
Warwick Marsh, CEO of charity organisation “Dads4Kids”, which is sponsoring the tour, said they were determined to expose as many Australians to the film as possible and will be providing free entry to all viewings as well as bringing producer Justin Hunt to speak about the underlying messages and the way forward.
“This is an honest, raw and moving film with a powerful message for all Australians,” Marsh said, “… I encourage not only fathers and future fathers to come along, but any Australian who desires to better understand fatherlessness and how we can turn the tide.”
The film features a tapestry of moving personal stories, ranging from well-known figures such as James Hetfield, frontman of heavy metal group Metallica; female model, Robin Decker; and world champion boxer, Johnny Tapia, to vulnerable youth and women caught up in prostitution.
Woven among these soul-baring testimonies is the thought-provoking wisdom and observations of top selling authors, John Eldredge and Father Richard Rohr, and sobering statistics on the tragic, social impact the absence of fathers has wreaked on communities across the world.
Rohr describes it as “the most universal wound on this earth” and Eldredge adds, “If you walk into any psychologist’s office in the world today, nine out of ten presenting problems – addictions, affairs, depression or whatever else, the father wound will be at the root.”
The film also presents an historical, psychological, social, spiritual and emotional perspective on the issue, and laments the lack of cultural initiation processes designed to invite and welcome boys to manhood – which, they claim, has resulted in the prolonged adolescent behaviours and attitudes witnessed in an increasing number of males today.
“You show me a person that is angry, violent, depressed, selfish, sexually immoral, hyper-driven, or one of several other personality types, and I’ll show you a father wound,” Hunt says.
“Nothing is more important to a young man, or a young woman, than a father’s love, respect and acceptance. And nothing is more damaging than when the question ‘Am I good enough?’ is asked of the father by the child, and the answer is silence.”
Those producing this film and organisers screening it throughout Australia are well aware of the difficulties in the battle required to counter and restore the rightful role of fatherhood, both at an individual and social level and acknowledge the film represents the early stages of what Rohr describes as an “evolution of consciousness”.
Fatherlessness is an insidious cancer that is tearing apart the fabric of society and is spreading its tentacles of personal and communal chaos in areas such as sexual and mental health, crime, violence, incarceration, suicide, addictions and abortions as well as the less obvious emotional and generational impact inflicted on those without positive and loving male role models.
Absent is a vital and necessary vehicle to continue the momentum of recognition and recovery that has been building in recent years as the fruits of this phenomenon become too obvious to ignore.
It is a disease that must be treated now before the disastrous fruits of fatherlessness become irreparable.
“We can no longer hide under the blanket of apathy – we need to fight for the hearts of our children,” the film’s voiceover concludes.
“If we do not, they will wander the world with a hole in their chest.”
A hole they will try to fill with anything they can find.