Forgiveness stars André Holland and Andra Day on display

LOS ANGELES – Forgiveness and coming to terms with a painful past can be difficult.

In “Exhibiting Forgiveness,” André Holland plays Tarrell, an American painter whose artwork brings beauty out of the torment of his youth while keeping the wounds of the past at bay. His path to success is interrupted when his estranged father LáRon (John Earl Jelks) returns, wracked with remorse and desperate for reconciliation.

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

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

For Andra Day, who plays Aisha, Tarrell’s wife, forgiveness means being faithful to God and setting yourself free.

“Forgiveness is not easy. Forgiveness is a great challenge. It’s a hard-fought battle, so we have to be courageous with each other. Forgiveness is also a decision we have to make every day,” she told Spectrum News.

For “Exhibiting Forgiveness,” Day delivers her powerful vocals to the film’s song “Bricks,” written by Cassandra Batie and Jherek Bischoff. For Day, the song is a way to recognize that past trauma does not define, nor does it have to control, a person’s present or future.

“One of the greatest miracles and one of the greatest blessings is our ability to create a life, a present, a future unlike anything we have ever experienced. How to create a peaceful environment when all you’ve ever experienced is abuse…that’s a miracle. I want people to know that about the song,” she said.

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

Another theme that “Exhibiting Forgiveness” addresses is that of addiction and drug abuse, while also emphasizing hope.

Jelks told Spectrum News that his message to anyone who may be struggling is to forgive themselves.

“If you can forgive yourself, you can ask for forgiveness, because if you don’t correct what you think is wrong, you can’t represent that there is real change. I believe it has to start with yourself first. And then be prepared to know what it might look like on the other end, because it might not look the way you imagined,” he said.

Holland told Spectrum News: “Exhibiting Forgiveness” is an invitation for people to think about forgiveness in relationships. He also hopes people leave wanting to see more films like “Exhibiting Forgiveness.”

“It’s difficult to make films like this at the moment. It’s kind of a miracle that we did it. “It shouldn’t be that hard, and one way to mitigate that difficulty is to show and support films like this when they come out,” he said.

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

The works of art also play an important role in “Exhibiting Forgiveness”. You can even say that they are one of the main characters of the film. The pieces are on view at the Gagosian in Beverly Hills through November 2nd.

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

Click on the video above to watch the full interview.