It is hard to believe that within the cold walls of Pollsmoor Prison, Cape Town’s maximum security jail, a story could emerge that epitomises the Healing Power of Nature. This programme focuses on one dangerous prisoner, his warder, and a bunch of birds.

Jannie Adams has spent 32 Christmases and 32 birthdays in jail. Now at the age of 50 he is about to be released, and maybe this time he will be able to stay on the outside.

Jannie had a brutal childhood, he was orphaned at the age of 3, was sent to work at the age of 12, and joined the “Fancy Boys” gang at the age of 15 after he was stabbed while visiting his cousins. “ Om te gesien te wil wees, moet jy ook maar iets wees.”

But it was his first imprisonment at the age of 19 that turned Jannie into a bitter man filled with aggression and revenge: nobody came to visit him for his entire first sentence.“Daarna het ek het nie lang buite gebly nie omdat niemand gee om nie”

Finally after 30 years in prison he has found something to heal his wounded heart and cool his rage. He hand rears birds in the Pollsmoor bird project. “Survivor”, his bird gives him endless entertainment and company.

“As my family kom nie besoek nie, het ek my kinders by my om my te versorg. Die Voel Project het my heeltemal verander.” The love he receives and feels for his birds, and the self respect and money he earns through the bird sales has given Jannie hope that this time he may be able to survive on the outside.

This remarkable healing is thanks to Wikus Griesser, Pollsmoor deputy director who had the vision and courage to start this innovative rehabilitation program. “These men are just rough diamonds that need to be polished.”

This is a story of hope and redemption through the healing power of birds.

It’s a story of a warder and an inmate who have touched the humanity in each other through what has become their mutual respect for and love of nature. It’s a moving and sensitive film within the harsh brutality of Pollsmoor prison.