Forest Whitaker says the path to racial healing begins with an acceptance of one’s mistakes — and needs to be followed by a discussion of how to right those wrongs.
That’s exactly the theme of the new film “Burden,” the Andrew Heckler-directed drama now in competition at the Sundance Film Festival. The 1990s-set film stars Garrett Hedlund as a young Ku Klux Klan disciple named Mike Burden, and Whitaker as a preacher who takes an interest in reforming him. Burden’s new girlfriend Judy (Andrea Riseborough) also helps him see the light, but not without cost.
“The first thing that has to happen is an acknowledgment of what’s going on and what’s happening and I think this film is making that acknowledgement… and then you can move into some form of recompense… Then you hopefully move into some form of healing that requires some acceptance. And then you have to move and continue to find some form of love.
The film also looks at whether it’s possible to repay someone for the wrongs committed against them.
The film, based on true events, also stars Tess Harper, Usher Raymond and Tom Wilkinson.
Whitaker also has another film at Sundance: The comedy “Sorry to Bother You,” the writing-directing debut of Boots Riley, leader of the legendary hip-hop group The Coup.
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