Starring: Garrett Hedlund, Forest Whitaker, Andrea Riseborough, Tom Wilkinson, Taylor Gregory, and Tess Harper
Distributor: Rialto Films
Runtime: 117 mins. Reviewed in Jun 2020
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This American drama is inspired by true events, and won the US Dramatic Audience Award at the Sundance Film Festival in 2018. It tells the story of the redemption of a Member of the Ku Klux Klan by a Baptist church minister, and the woman he loves.
Mike Burden (Garrett Hedlund) was raised as an orphan by the Ku Klux Klan, and was integrated into its culture of hate. He falls in love with Judy (Andrea Riseborough), who, deeply opposed to the Klan, urges him to break away from the racist community that holds him bound. She wants him to forge a better life. But when Burden attempts to do that, the Klan seeks vengeance for his desertion. The film depicts events that occurred in 1996 in the town of Laurens, South Carolina.
A strong Baptist church congregation exists in the town, and is led by an African American pastor, Reverend David Kennedy (Forest Whitaker). Rev. Kennedy commits himself to protecting Burden, together with Andrea, and her son (Taylor Gregory). Kennedy vehemently opposes the opening of a museum in his town in an abandoned movie theatre which will be used to celebrate the history of the Ku Klux Klan. Mike Burden is a veteran member of the Klan, which is led by its leader Tom Griffin (Tom Wilkinson). Griffin is an intimidating and manipulative presence in the town, and he hands Burden, his loyal lieutenant, a gun to defend himself against those who are opposing him.
Rev. Kennedy tries to do all in his power to stop racial tensions boiling over in his community, which is shocked to learn that their Pastor is wanting to shelter a Ku Klux Klan member (Burden) who has formed a relationship with a single mother. Acting as he feels he should, Kennedy idealistically leads protests against the museum; and his belief structures are severely challenged. He is conflicted in the knowledge of what he is doing, but stays resolute in trying to rescue Burden and heal his church community, even after receiving threats to himself and his family.
This is a film that strongly addresses the theme of anti-racism and it is scripted heavily around that theme. The movie has startling relevance to contemporary events as waves of rage and grief currently surge through major US cities where race riots are now occurring. Made more than two years ago, the power of this movie lies not in justifying the rage, as much as finding ways of exploring the possibilities of finding peace.
Forest Whitaker, as Rev. Kennedy, gives a powerful performance as a man who experiences the conflict between the desire to protect a desperate person who needs his help, and wanting to find God-given ways to keep his family and the town together in the love of others. Garrett Hedlund edgily demonstrates Burden’s vulnerability as he becomes aware that his attitudes of hate have to be kept apart from his affection for the woman he loves. Tom Wilkinson, as the leader of the Klan, plays a person committed “to fighting for racial purity”, and he effectively shows how he controls the townspeople and his wife, Hazel (Tess Harper). Burden was his friend, and, following the separation, he pursues him with calculated intent. Andrea Riseborough vitally plays the woman who turns Burden’s hatred of others into redemptive openness to the power of human compassion and Christian forgiveness.
This is an inspiring film directed in heavy style about a community torn apart by racism, but which finds the courage to come together again, united against hatred. It rejects what the Ku Klux Klan stands for, its violence and all that it represents, and the story is told compellingly. Although it is never in doubt who or what is “good” and “bad” in this film, the movie projects a powerful anti-racist message that is timely. Its cinematography, in particular, creates a naturalistic feel, that forcibly conveys the status of black people lying at the margins. The film moves to an emotionally powerful ending, and the closing credits are accompanied by the soulfully ironic sounds of the wonderful song, (Let Me Carry Your) “Burden”, that was composed for the film.
Peter W. Sheehan is Associate of the Australian Catholic Office for Film and Broadcasting
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