Six years after a school shooting that left several children dead, the parents (Reed Birney, Ann Dowd) of the perpetrator agree to meet with the parents (Jason Isaacs, Martha Plimpton) of one of the victims. For his feature film directing debut, Fran Kranz was inspired by the 2018 Parkland shooting. The film is an examination of the process of forgiveness, shown here as a conversation between parents, two of whom are trying to understand how the other two failed to realize just how dangerous their son was becoming. Performed as a chamber piece in one sparsely decorated room in a church, the cast is a marvel to watch, especially Dowd and Isaacs. Moving and cathartic.

2021-U.S. 110 min. Color. Produced by Fran Kranz, Dylan Matlock, Casey Wilder Mott, J.P. Oullette. Written and directed by Fran Kranz. Cast: Reed Birney (Richard), Ann Dowd (Linda), Jason Isaacs (Jay), Martha Plimpton (Gail), Breeda Wool, Kagen Albright.

Last word: “When I came across these meetings, the connection I made was with the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in South Africa. When I learned about that in college, I was deeply disturbed by it because I did not think I could do it. I did not think I could forgive someone who took a loved one or a family member from me. It terrified me because what that meant is that I would be living a life of hate and blame, forever. I’d be stuck with that pain, that resentment, and that hatred, and that’s a terrifying thing to think about. I had to confront those feelings again when this Parkland shooting happened because I was a parent and I started to worry about my child and the country she was gonna grow up into.” (Kranz, Collider)

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