‘Exhibiting Forgiveness’: A generational trauma healing journey

LOS ANGELES — Forgiveness and confronting a painful past can be hard.

In “Exhibiting Forgiveness” André Holland plays Tarrell, an American painter whose artwork excavates beauty from the anguish of his youth as he keeps past wounds at bay. His path to success is derailed when his estranged father, LáRon (John Earl Jelks) returns, conscience-stricken and desperate to reconcile.

The film is not only about fatherhood, family, hope and generational trauma, but for director and artist Titus Kaphar, it is a personal journey in which most of the characters are based on people he loves. Kaphar told Spectrum News that it was through the process of making “Exhibiting Forgiveness” that made him realize the things he was doing through his artistic practice could potentially lead to generational trauma healing.

“Not just healing for me, healing for my family. I have always used my work as a cathartic process to go deeper and dig into the things I am feeling,” he said.

For Andra Day, who plays Aisha, Tarrell’s wife, forgiveness, for her, is being faithful to God and freeing oneself.

“Forgiveness is not easy. Forgiveness is very challenging. It’s a hard-fought battle so we need to have grace with each other. Forgiveness is also a choice that we have to make every day,” she told Spectrum News.

For “Exhibiting Forgiveness,” Day lends her powerhouse vocals for the film’s song “Bricks,” which was written by Cassandra Batie and Jherek Bischoff. For Day, the song is a way to know that past trauma does not define one’s present or future and it doesn’t have to control it either.

“One of the greatest miracles and one of the greatest blessings is our ability to create a life, a present, a future that we’ve never actually experienced. How you create a peaceful environment when all you have ever known is abuse … that is miraculous. That’s what I want people to know about the song,” she said.

André Holland and John Earl Jelks in “Exhibiting Forgiveness.” (Courtesy of Roadside Attractions)

Another theme “Exhibiting Forgiveness” takes on is that of addiction and substance abuse while highlighting hope.

Jelks told Spectrum News that his message for anyone who might find himself or herself struggling is to forgive yourself.

“If you can forgive yourself, then you can ask for forgiveness, because if you don’t correct what you feel is wrong with you, there is no way you can portray that there is any real change. I believe it has to start with yourself first. And then, be prepared to know what it may look like on the other end because it may not look what you imaged it to be,” he said.

Holland told Spectrum News “Exhibiting Forgiveness” is an invitation for people to consider finding forgiveness in relationships. He also hopes that people walk away wanting to see more movies like “Exhibiting Forgiveness.”

“It is difficult right now to get movies like this made. It’s kind of a miracle that we did. It shouldn’t be this hard, and one of the ways we can help mitigate that difficulty is by showing up and supporting movies like this when they do come out,” he said.

André Holland and Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor in “Exhibiting Forgiveness.” (Courtesy of Roadside Attractions)

In “Exhibiting Forgiveness,” the art pieces also play a vital role. One can even say they are one of the main characters in the film. The pieces are on display at the Gagosian in Beverly Hills through Nov. 2.

“Exhibiting Forgiveness” is now playing in theaters nationwide. It also stars Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor.

Click the video above to watch the full interview.