The Worst Thing

A decade in the making, this engrossing documentary takes a rather savage episode -- an American soldier named Eddie is kidnapped from a bar in Germany in 1985 and murdered -- and dives deep into the ramifications of the crime.

Mostly it focuses on Kathleen, the sister of the victim who was a teenage friend of filmmaker Desireena Almoradie at the time of the murder. But as Kathleen gets older and attempts to process her own grief, she learns about restorative justice, and sets out to engage with the leftist Red Army Faction members who murdered her brother. As the story unfolds, everyone receives their full dose of human empathy, and it becomes clear just what a complex and difficult thing it is to engage with people who have committed an irreversible act of violence.

Kathleen's quest is both understandable and mysterious, and the resulting film is deeply thought-provoking and moving. Highly recommended!

It is a very nice film to begin with. Even if you're not familiar with restorative justice, Kathleen's story and personal transformation throughout her life are very compelling.

In particular I liked the dialogues with former RAF-members and affiliates. To see two people who mainstream politics would put at each others opposites, communicate about these delicate topics in such a nice way, really shows that restorative justice is not just a theorem. It can truly do justice for some.

I watched " The worst thing" in Germany at the Snowdance Independent Filmfestival and was immediately blown away by the honesty, the empathy and the questions it raises on themes like justice, revenge and facing your worst fears.

Desireena Almoradie chose a very personal and unobtrusive way to tell the story of Kathleen who decides to try to visit and speak to the murderers of her brother. Being very interested in the history of the German terrorists of the R.A.F. and questions about how people can become murderers, for me the film provided a very interesting perspective on the whole subject matter.

Kathleen who tried to go the hard way instead of the simple way of revenge, hate and counter-violence, which is always self-destructive, has my highest respect. So has Des, the wonderful filmmaker who accompanied her friend Kathleen on this journey into the heart of darkness.

My favorite parts of this film are the uncomfortable conversations that Kathleen has on her quest for restorative justice. We see how politics play out on such a personal level, and how actions are justified. It's easy to categorize people are good/bad, and their actions falling into that. It's more interesting and nuanced to take a deeper look.

Kathleen's search for a meeting with her brother's killers provides a real-life example of restorative justice. It explores Kathleen's journey over a number of years, and includes the director's own perspective, as well as various actors who disagree and question Kathleen's approach.

I was taken in by Kathleen's honesty, strength and humanity. Her conversations and dedication to restorative justice moved and inspired me.