Healing Ground documentary

In September 2024 my friend Iain Pennington and I set out to shoot three short-form documentaries in eleven days in Scotland.

I ended up shooting this first one on the Isle of Bute on my own as Iain was ill, but we met up after to complete the two remaining ones together. What an amazing trip with the most amazing people.

Canadian astrophysicist and former politician Avi (formerly Amita) Kuttner talks about their emotional journey of healing and self-discovery, recalling the devastating loss of their mother in a mudslide at age fourteen, their father’s injuries, and the complex trauma arising from these and subsequent damaging experiences.

The film explores their path toward recovery, the move to the Isle of Bute in Scotland, and highlights the importance of physical and emotional routines, mindfulness, and self-compassion in processing trauma. The documentary also touches on Avi’s gender identity and dysphoria, which had become more apparent as they confronted repressed emotions.

Avi finds a sense of wonder and freedom in the natural world, reflecting on the transformative power of facing life’s truths to fully embrace life in all its beauty.