Chained to a Tree By His Father for Fourteen Years | A Man in Chain | Full Film

Summary

The film follows a 29-year-old man who has been chained to a tree for 14 years. His father, Asor Alugokum, says the restraint began after his son became seriously ill shortly after finishing senior high school. He recalls that his son had been intelligent and excelled in school, but says the family did not know what caused the change. The father describes seeking help and says his son had assaulted family members, including him and the boy’s mother.

The son says he is unwell and speaks of anger, isolation, and wanting to go to church and pray. He says villagers hate and beat him, and he makes threats when asked what he would do if freed. His accounts and the family’s explanations do not always align, making it difficult to establish the nature of his illness and experiences from the interviews.

The family describes adapting to life around the restraint. The film also shows the man’s exposure to hazards around the compound, including mosquitoes, scorpions, and snakes. Relatives say they treated a snakebite with traditional medicine.

Overall, the interviews depict a family struggling to manage a prolonged and distressing situation, while raising questions about the man’s safety, treatment, and confinement.

Presenters and Contributors

• Asor Alugokum (father)
• His son (name unclear in the subtitles)
• The son’s grandfather
• An unnamed interviewer