Film ensures parents’ wounds are Seen

A desire to help parents, carrying wounds from their own childhoods, has sparked a documentary which has now been viewed by more than 30,000 people and will be screened in Redcliffe this weekend.

There have been more than 300 community screenings of Seen: The Film across Australia since it was released in March and it is now also showing in the US, Canada and the UK.

Producer Sam Jockel, who is a parent and the founder of ParentTV, says it has been a labour of love for about two years and the culmination of 15 years of her life’s work.

“I kept seeing the same themes coming up in conversations with parents, educators, and experts: so many of us are trying to give our kids the best start in life, but we’re carrying wounds from our own childhoods that impact how we are able to show up,” Sam says.

“Seen was born from a desire to explore this – to show what it takes to break those cycles from normal everyday parents and create stronger, healthier families.

“Director Hailey Bartholomew would also say, I believe, that it was a reflection of her parenting journey also and, for her, was a love letter to young Hailey when she first became a mum.”

The first Redcliffe screening of Seen is on July 26 from 3-5.30pm at Redcliffe Uniting Church and Community Hub, 1 Richens St, Redcliffe.

“Being based in Redcliffe, as the producer, I think it's kinda cool that myself and three of the parents in the film currently live in Redcliffe,” Sam says.

“The response has been overwhelming since release. People tell us it’s the film they didn’t know they needed.

“Parents have told us it’s helped them look at themselves with greater clarity and kindness, and start to make sense of the question, ‘How did I get here?’ Screenings often end with a few tears, shared compassion, and deep conversations.

“My hope is that Seen starts conversations. first within families, then in schools, workplaces, and communities. I want it to help people understand the long-term impact of childhood trauma, but also offer hope that healing is possible at any age.”

The film has been selected for a couple of festivals including the Illuminate Film Festival in Santa Barbara in May as well as the Melbourne Documentary Film Festival. Seen won Best Artistic Direction at the Illuminate Film Festival.

“At its heart, Seen is about understanding who we are and where we have come from as parents. Parenting isn't just seeing the child in front of you, it's also seeing the child you once were that is still inside of you,” Sam says.

“It explores how our own childhood experiences shape the way we parent, and how when we can heal those wounds to show up differently it changes everything for our kids.”

The first Redcliffe screening of Seen has been sponsored by Moreton Bay City Council. It is a free community event with a live Q&A following the screening featuring Sam and two of the parents from the film who are also Redcliffe locals.

Tickets are limited. Register for free here