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Forgiveness is a 2004 South African drama film dealing with the effects of the apartheid system and the difficulty of reconciliation. It was directed by Ian Gabriel and stars Arnold Vosloo, Zane Meas, Quanita Adams and Denise Newman.[1]

Forgiveness
Theatrical release poster.
Directed by	Ian Gabriel
Written by	Greg Latter
Produced by	Cindy Gabriel
Starring	Arnold Vosloo
Cinematography	Giulio Biccari
Edited by	Ronelle Loots
Music by	Philip Miller
Distributed by	California Newsreel
Release date	7 August 2004 (2004-08-07) (Switzerland)
Running time	92 min.
Country	South Africa
Language	English/Afrikaans

Plot

Tertius Coetzee, a young South African Police constable during apartheid, is granted amnesty by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission for torturing and killing a Coloured ANC activist. Haunted by his brutal past, Coetzee travels to a West Coast fishing village to find the man's family and eventually ask their forgiveness.

Cast

• Arnold Vosloo as Tertius Coetzee
• Quanita Adams as Sannie Grootboom
• Christo Davids as Ernest Grootboom
• Zane Meas as Hendrik Grootboom

Reception

The New York Times remarked that 'Gabriel's sluggish direction is offset by atmospheric visuals that transform water droplets into glass beads and the ocean into an oily canvas speckled with bobbing gulls. Shooting on high-definition digital video, Giulio Biccari bleaches the coastline to a dusty gray, mirroring the characters’ motives and adding weight to a script that's frustratingly cagey.'[2] Slant Magazine gave the film two stars and questioned its structure, saying, 'No one will accuse Gabriel of pushing a glossy commentary about reparations in South Africa, only a shabby melodrama. Ultimately, the film's stilted design is more transparent than clever, for which there shouldn't be any excuse.'[3]

Forgiveness has won awards at both the Locarno International Film Festival and the Cape Town International Film Festival.

References

External links

• Forgiveness official website
• Forgiveness at IMDb
• Forgiveness at allmovie
• Forgiveness at Rotten Tomatoes

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