The Forgiven (2018)

Overview
"The Forgiven" is a 2018 British drama directed by Roland Joffé, it includes Forest Whitaker and Eric Bana, to name a few. A story unraveling truth, forgiveness, and mankind's inherent sense of justice. It is somewhat based upon real-life events in post-apartheid South Africa.

The Setting
The movie is set in post-apartheid South Africa, in a period where the country is having a hard time to fix up with its past. It's during Nelson Mandela's tenure when he set up the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC). The TRC's goal was not only to expose the atrocities committed throughout apartheid but also to promote forgiveness and reconciliation in order to avoid revenge and additional department. The commission supplied a platform for both the victims and the criminals to air their grievances, paving the road for recovery.

The Plot

The narrative removes with the arrival of Archbishop Desmond Tutu (Forest Whitaker) in Cape Town. He is set to spearhead the TRC, however quickly encounters intense resistance from both sides of the racial divide. Among his numerous encounters, he crosses courses with Piet Blomfeld (Eric Bana), a ruthless ex-security officer sentenced to life jail time for his crimes versus humankind during apartheid.

Blomfeld, who is seeking redemption, declares to have information on the harsh missing out on case of a young girl, the one which is haunting Tutu and the TRC. This establishes a series of high-stake exchanges in between Tutu and Blomfeld-- intellectual, psychological, and philosophical-- raising questions about forgiveness, ruthlessness, redemption, and justice.

Performances
Forest Whitaker masterfully depicts Archbishop Tutu, capturing his subtleties, his tranquility, and above all, his persistent faith in humanity's ability to alter and forgive. Eric Bana, on the other hand, remarkably shows the tortured mind of Blomfeld, making the audience face the possibility of redemption for such a male, for such a criminal activity.

Crucial Examination
"The Forgiven" may be a hard watch for some due to its raw representation of human atrocities and bigotry. However, it resonates with extensive messages of forgiveness and reconciliation essential for a society to recover from its collective trauma. The grittiness and authenticity of the movie could be credited to the extreme efficiencies by the lead stars, and the well-crafted story.

Conclusion
In essence, "The Forgiven" is a thought-provoking assessment of South Africa's journey from apartheid, highlighting not just the value of fact in reconciliation but also the power of forgiveness in healing deep social injuries. It leaves the audience pondering whether forgiveness is really possible after unfathomable misdeeds. The film ends with Tutu and Blomfeld understanding each other much better, meaning the possibility of redemption, even for those who appear irredeemable.

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