EXHIBITING FORGIVENESS Trailer: André Holland Faces His Past in Sundance Breakout

Artist-turned-filmmaker Titus Kaphar examines how familial trauma impacts the artist’s soul in his emotional feature debut, Exhibiting Forgiveness. The semi-autobiographical drama, which premiered at this year’s Sundance, stars André Holland as a painter who’s forced to face his long-buried past when his estranged addict father (John Earl Jelks) resurfaces hoping to reconcile. Andra Day and Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor co-star as the women in his life trying to help him heal. Writer-director Kaphar also produces alongside Blue Valentine director Derek Cianfrance. Roadside Attractions has now released the official trailer ahead of its release this fall.

In her review from Sundance, Melanie Addington wrote “Learning that the cycle your parents were raised in is what led you to both rebel against, but also finally see the parent as a person that was once a scared kid like you were, shows a nuanced character growth that, as a first-time filmmaker, Kaphar excels at capturing. Generational trauma, art, forgiveness, and self-examination are all present both on the canvas and in scenes with a child version of Tarrell reminding him of the things that remain buried within… The toxic masculinity inherent in the addict-father relationship feels honest with truthful dialogue. In the end, the film reflects an artist’s soul.”

Here’s the official synopsis:

Tarrell (Holland) is an admired American painter who lives with his wife, singer Aisha (Day), and their young son, Jermaine. Tarrell’s artwork excavates beauty from the anguish of his youth, keeping past wounds at bay. His path to success is derailed by an unexpected visit from his estranged father, La’Ron (Jelks), a conscience-stricken man desperate to reconcile. Tarrell’s mother, Joyce (Ellis-Taylor) a pious woman with a profound and joyful spirituality, hopes that Tarrell can open his heart to forgiveness, giving them all another chance at being a family. Tarrell and La’Ron learn that forgetting might be a greater challenge than forgiving in this raw and deeply moving film.

Exhibiting Forgiveness opens in theaters October 18. Watch the trailer below.

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