I just saw this film at the AFI Film Fest, where the director, writer, producer and majority of cast, spoke and conducted a Q&A. From a film-making stand point, the film was so wonderfully portrayed that messages could be received and interpreted from many social angles. Everything, from the focus pulls to the set and costume design, constructed a milieu conducive to an effective portrayal of a young man's struggle and confrontation with his racial identity and reconciliation. When asked for the core meaning of her film, Onwurah simple said that so many meanings could be extracted to fit each individual that no specific meaning fits any one person. With that in mind, I found the power of forgiveness an amazing issue raised in this film. Joseph, the main character, after we fallow him through the development of his resentment toward black people, learns to forgive those that have wronged him. What is most interesting and perhaps convoluted is how he comes to his forgiveness. He finally faces the boy that triggered a series of events that ruined his life with understanding. At one point, Joseph realizes to work towards forgiveness, not for the benefit of the forgiven, but instead for himself. To see how he comes to this conclusion, you just have to watch the film. The power of this concept of forgiveness, as a benefit to ourselves, can be applied to so many aspects of our lives that to see it evinced in this film made watching and understanding it truly worth while... What's your meaning?
Review of Shoot the Messenger
