Exhibiting Forgiveness is a 2024 American independent drama film written and directed by Titus Kaphar. The film stars André Holland, Andra Day, John Earl Jelks and Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor.
The film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival on January 20, 2024 and was released in the United States on October 18, 2024.
Plot Tarrell, a painter, has a loving relationship with his wife Aisha, young son Jermaine, and mother Joyce. When Tarrell's father La'Ron re-enters his life, Tarrell is upset and bitter about their strained relationship. Flashbacks reveal La'Ron's stern and abusive behavior towards Tarrell and Joyce. La'Ron has a newfound identity as a Christian, and Joyce (who's already a devout Christian) urges Tarrell to forgive his father, citing a portion from the New Testament. Shortly after, Joyce dies. Later, La'Ron shows up at a gallery showing of Tarrell's art. Tarrell and La'Ron argue, and La'Ron urges forgiveness. Tarrell yields and forgives his father, but insists that they will have no future together. Later, Tarrell tells his son that he loves him.
Cast André Holland as Tarrell Andra Day as Aisha Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor as Joyce John Earl Jelks as La'Ron Ian Foreman as Young Tarrell Daniel Michael Barriere as Jermaine Matthew Elam as Quentin Jaime Ray Newman as Janine
Release The film premiered in the U.S. Dramatic Competition at the Sundance Film Festival on January 20, 2024. In April 2024, Roadside Attractions acquired distribution rights to the film, planning to release it theatrically sometime in fall the same year. The film began a limited theatrical run in the United States on October 18, 2024.
Reception Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 82 out of 100, based on 17 critics, indicating "universal acclaim".
The Guardian critic Benjamin Lee described the film as an "emotionally wrenching drama set to resonate with those who have also had to confront the complicated equation of radical forgiveness". Owen Gleiberman of Variety wrote, "Exhibiting Forgiveness sends you out on a note of hope, but it’s not exactly a feel-good movie. It’s a feel-the-reality movie, a drama willing to scald. That’s its quiet power".
Accolades Award Date of ceremony Category Recipient(s) Result African-American Film Critics Association Awards 19 February 2025 Top 10 Films of the Year Exhibiting Forgiveness Best Original Song "Bricks" Black Reel Awards 10 February 2025 Outstanding Film Exhibiting Forgiveness Outstanding DirectorTitus Kaphar Outstanding Screenplay Outstanding First Screenplay Outstanding Emerging Director Outstanding Lead PerformanceAndré Holland Outstanding Supporting PerformanceAunjanue Ellis-Taylor Outstanding EnsembleKim Coleman Outstanding Original Song "Bricks" NAACP Image Awards 22 February 2025 Outstanding Independent Motion Picture Exhibiting Forgiveness Outstanding Breakthrough Creative (Motion Picture)Titus Kaphar Outstanding Writing in a Motion Picture Outstanding Cinematography in a Feature FilmLachlan Milne Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion PictureAunjanue Ellis-Taylor Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture André Holland Sundance Film Festival 18 January 2024 Grand Jury Prize - U.S. Dramatic Competition Exhibiting Forgiveness Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association 8 December 2024 Best Youth Performance Ian Foreman
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