The Department

About This Movie

The Department is a raw dive into the child protection system in New South Wales. Sascha Ettinger-Epstein uses an observational style that feels almost intrusive at times, capturing the real dilemmas faced by caseworkers. The pacing is deliberately slow, allowing viewers to absorb the weight of each decision made in the field. Themes of domestic violence and systemic challenges are front and center, revealing the complexities of safeguarding children. The performances—if you can call them that—are real and unscripted, which gives the whole thing an unsettling authenticity. It's not flashy, but it's insightful in how it reveals the human side of a system often shrouded in bureaucracy. Definitely a unique perspective on a tough subject.

Observational documentary styleReal-life caseworker experiencesFocus on child protection system