In Sorry for Real ‘the Western world’ apologises for the violent history of slavery, colonialism and the continuing exploitation of African people and resources. We see a smartphone chat in which ‘the West’ asks for forgiveness. But what purpose does an apology serve? Who benefits from it? Which power structures are concealed behind it? Should the present apologise for the past? And can this past ever really be forgiven? Sorry for Real questions the unequal balance of power within the politics of compensation, and emphasises the need to decolonise technologies and reconciliation strategies.