The Benevolents (click link to view) came out in 2021 under French title ''Les bienveillants' and was directed by Sarah Baril Gaudet. In the film the viewer goes into Tel-Aide Montreal call center. We follow a group of volunteers in training. The key to their important work is learning how to listen, "the importance of vigilent ears in a society of loneliness."
The volunteers listen to callers, lonely, desperate people calling to talk. They let the callers talk and through comments and questions affirm that they are there listening and that they HEAR what the caller says. They are the ears in the darkness that affirm the callers humanity and allow them to name their pain. We all could benefit from this training. The rare often lost art of listening is so life affirming.
This film is part of a series of short documentaries by independent filmmakers available through the New York Times online. These include a spectrum of films from emerging directors to Oscar winners from around the world.
