A portrait of a son finding it difficult to forgive his abusive father.

I virtually saw “Exhibiting Forgiveness” from the Sundance Film Festival, and I was given another look when AMC Theaters hosted a Screen Unseen screening of it. I needed a reminder on why I enjoyed it before and what it represents.

The movie was written and directed by Titus Kaphar, who is an artist with African American themes in his paintings. His work is held in collection of famous art museums, including Museum of Modern Art, New Britain Museum of American Art, and Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. He even taught his leading actor Andre Holland how to paint in his directorial debut, which should be shown in art museums as well as movie theaters. It really merges the art with the challenges of life, and what comes out of it. It all goes well on the canvas.

Holland plays an artist named Tarrell, whose mother Joyce (Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor with dyed blue hair) tries to arrange a family reunion between him and his abusive junkie father La’Ron (John Earl Jelks), whom he rejects for his past behavior. It sounds like the same story we’ve seen before, but it isn’t irritable or derivative; it serves an important purpose within the script.

The old man has been wandering around the streets for years like a bum. He’s blown his chances of recovery up to the point of his family disowning him. In fact, the only person who still loves and forgives him is Joyce, because of what she believes in the Bible (“If you don’t forgive people of their past sins, then you can’t be forgiven”). Tarrell, however, finds it difficult for obvious reasons. In fact, he tries to erase his past with his artwork, while suffering from nightmares which force his musician wife Aisha (Andra Day) and son Jermaine (Daniel Michael Barriere) to be separated from him. 

La’Ran’s excuses for his past behavior feature his own abusive father, and an example of La’Ran’s abuse towards his son is a flashback when he made Tarrell (Ian Foreman) cut lawns despite him stepping on a nail. He also used their hard earn money on drugs, and even closes their day with the “You can do anything you set your mind” message, like nothing bad happened.

“Exhibiting Forgiveness” is an emotionally powerful movie about the past and the present, and how this particular artist is often haunted by his youth. It’s about trying to move on and complementing on whether or not forgiveness must be given. Even if some moments don’t work for me, there are sad and poignant reflections on life. How an old man learns the errors of his ways a bit too late in life, and how his son struggles to find peace, which threatens his intimacy with his mother and family.

The performances are universally excellent. Holland gives an emotionally complex role in which he struggles to grasp the reality he was given. Day and Ellis-Taylor, who were both last seen in “The Deliverance,” are both fine in their attempts to reason with the main protagonist’s sanity. I’ve never heard of Jelks before, but his acting credits include “Miracle at St. Anna,” his guest appearances on shows like “True Detective” and “Blue Bloods,” and his stage roles for “The Piano Lesson” and “Joe Turner’s Come and Gone.” And in the role of La’Ran, he delivers with powerful aspects that shift well through his tones.

I’m glad I was given a second chance at looking at “Exhibiting Forgiveness,” so I can be reminded on the artwork that reflects on the film’s turmoil. And as an artist-turned filmmaker, Titus Kaphar gives it the right coat of paint.