Documentary

Casus Belli-on the paths of peace

Anne Levy-Morelle

Literally rendered, “casus belli” means “cause of war”. The cause can be vital or futile and the blazeit ignites can be a world war or a neighbourhood squabble. But some stages are the same, whateverthe scale of the conflict: misunderstanding – misinterpretation of signs, acts or words; defamation– open or veiled insults; and escalation. A blaze is easier to ignite than to extinguish.This film examines the difficult work of bringing human beings in discord back to relative peace. Itexplores two places and two professions: the neighbourhood mediator, who listens, refrains fromoffering advice, and tries to get the conflicting parties themselves to find the solution, and theJustice of the Peace, who makes a ruling in some cases, and tries to broker an agreement in others– though it may be a long and difficult process.