Forgiveness is an essential component of Christian and mindfulness ideology. Forgiving is perceived as liberating and healing. But are there certain dastardly and evil deeds that simply can’t be forgiven such as the endless episodes of genocide plaguing world history? Tarrell (André Holland) is a black artist seemingly living the good life, a real up and comer with a musician wife and a son. He drives a vintage Mercedes. He lives in a beautiful house with an enormous studio. Everything perfect right?
Not really as Tarrell suffers from nightmares leaving him waking up in a panic or a rage. Flashes in his mind of a nail on a board, a lawnmower, fire in a drum, glass shattering etc. Eventually it is revealed his once loving father had morphed into a crackhead turning into an abusive monster abusing Tarrell and his mother to the point after numerous relapses he is living in the street in a dirty disheveled state wheeling around a shopping cart with his belongings.
Beaten and bloodied by an armed robber in a liquor store robbery he limps to his brother who cleans him up but as he has robbed his brother and wife blind he is not welcome in their house. He is accepted by a pastor giving him refuge in a dank basement on the condition he attend recovery meetings to the point he has recovered, yet again, and has become somewhat of a Bible Thumper.
Tarrell’s mother, a Bible Thumper, begs Tarrell to forgive his monstrous father as the Bible says if you can’t forgive a person, you will not be able to forgive yourself. After an argument with Tarrell she is hospitalized and on her death bed due to a preexisting condition. Will the film be yet another sappy dysfunctional family saved on the deathbed wishes genre? Only partially and that along with solid acting throughout makes the film a worthy watch.
Available on VOD now.
Directed and written by Titus Kaphar.
RKS 2025 Film Rating 79/100. You may watch the trailer here https://www.imdb.com/video/vi343590425/?ref_=tt_vi_i_1
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