Roadside Attractions Picks Up ‘Exhibiting Forgiveness’ Starring André Holland, John Earl Jelks, Andra Day & Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor
Roadside Attractions acquired Sundance World Premiere Exhibiting Forgiveness, the lauded directorial debut by renowned artist Titus Kaphar starring Spirit Award Winner and SAG Nominee André Holland, Tony Award Nominee John Earl Jelks, Oscar nominee Andra Day and Oscar Nominee Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor, representing the finest ensemble of actors.
Writer and producer Kaphar delivers a multidimensional personal drama which explores parental relationships, generational healing, and the power of forgiveness. Produced by Stephanie Allain (Hustle & Flow, Dear White People), Derek Cianfrance (Blue Valentine, The Place Beyond the Pines), Jamie Patricof (Blue Valentine, Half Nelson) and Sean Cotton, Exhibiting Forgiveness will open nationwide for the fall awards season.
Tarrell Rodin (Holland) is an admired American painter who lives with his wife, singer-songwriter Aisha (Day), and young son, Jermaine. His artwork excavates beauty from the anguish of his youth, keeping past wounds at bay. His path to success is derailed by an unexpected visit from his estranged father, La’Ron (Jelks), a recovering addict desperate to reconcile.
La’Ron visits at the invitation of Tarrell’s mother, Joyce (Ellis-Taylor) a pious woman with a profound and joyful spirituality. She hopes that Tarrell can open his heart to forgiveness, giving them all another chance at being a family. Tarrell and La’Ron learn that forgetting might be a greater challenge than forgiving in this raw and deeply moving film.
Kaphar’s vulnerable and intimately articulated film inspired tour de force performances from Holland and Jelks, who both portray complex and flawed characters. The work is elevated by the extraordinary acting of Oscar® nominees Day and Ellis-Taylor.
“Titus has changed the world with his art, and this film will bring him a legion of new fans and delight the many who already love his work,” commented Roadside Attractions Co-Presidents Howard Cohen and Eric d’Arbeloff. “These are four jaw-dropping performances which we have no doubt is the finest ensemble filmgoers will see this year.”
Kaphar added, “Even the most extraordinary film in the world would remain hidden without the right distribution team; I'm so excited that our film has found its champion. Roadside has a reputation for bringing us unflinching movie experiences that center innovative and character-driven storytelling. I'm honored to have their support, and proud that Exhibiting Forgiveness will become part of their outstanding portfolio.”
Kaphar is an internationally esteemed artist who received an MFA from the Yale School of Art and is the recipient of a Robert R. Rauschenberg Artist as Activist grant, a Creative Capital Award, an Art for Justice Fund grant, and a MacArthur Fellowship, among others. Kaphar’s painting, Analagous Colors, was featured on the cover of the June 15, 2020, issue of TIME. His lauded 2017 TED talk has received 2.8 million views to date. Kaphar’s work is included in the collections of the Detroit Institute of Arts, Detroit, MI; the Yale University Art Gallery, New Haven, CT; the Seattle Art Museum, Seattle, WA; The Museum of Modern Art, New York, NY; Brooklyn Museum, Brooklyn, NY; The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY, amongst others.
Kaphar approaches film production as an extension of his studio practice, expanding existing bodies of painting and sculpture through film. In 2016, Kaphar completed a series of paintings and a short documentary inspired by his relationship with his father called The Jerome Project, this work is also the basis for the Exhibiting Forgiveness script. Kaphar’s most recent short documentary, Shut up and Paint was shortlisted for the Academy Award® in 2022.
A Hunting Lane, Homegrown, Shade Pictures, Revolution Ready Production, the film was produced by Stephanie Allain, Derek Cianfrance, Jamie Patricof, Sean Cotton and Titus Kaphar, with Claire Brooks, Stephanie Blackwood, Kim Coleman, serving as Executive Producers, and Rachel Halilej, Natalie Renee, and Michael VQ as Co-Producers. Cinematography by Lachlan Milne, editing by Ron Patane, and music by Jherek Bischoff.