Australia is the only ‘Western’ nation that imposes mandatory detention on all asylum seekers, adults and children alike. Letters To Ali is the story of an ordinary Australian woman who decided to find out more about this abhorrent practice. Trish began writing to a number that belonged to Ali, an orphaned 15 year old Afghan boy who was being detained at Port Hedland. The family opened their hearts to Ali, sent him letters, CD’s  and made phone calls. Then they travelled 12,000kms round trip to visit their new ‘son’. When they decided to go again the following year, filmmaker Clara Law went along for the ride. Law, a native of Macau, has a reflective approach to life in her adopted homeland. This informs the content and style of Letters To Ali and why an ordinary family would make such an extraordinary effort. She avoids policy to concentrate on the humanity of people like Trish who stand up to the fear that surrounds refugees, despite the paradox that keeps Ali as faceless as the government wants him, and hundreds like him, to remain. It’s a heartfelt film that is touching and enlightening despite Law’s protracted and meandering style. An early promise of intimacy is unfulfilled and handheld camerawork has a high queasy quotient – breathtaking landscapes are reduced to a nauseous digital blur that add nothing to her story. Another trip through the edit suite would have vastly improved the impact of this film and its galling subject. “Children must not be put in jail without just cause,” said Malcolm Fraser. Hopefully Law’s film will bring this message closer to those who need to hear it. // COLIN FRASER