The best sociopolitical art, like that of Pablo Picasso”Guernica“and that of Jean Michel Basquiat”Ride with death“, has always revealed the inner state of its creator. This dichotomy between the artist’s emotions and art itself is at the heart of the conflict brewing within Tarrell Rodin (André Holland), the protagonist of the new deeply moving film by Titus Kaphar, “Show forgiveness“.

Sales of Tarrell’s evocative paintings have provided the artist and his family with a comfortable lifestyle (Andra Day as his wife, Aisha; Daniel Berrier as their son, Jermaine) – a lifestyle that couldn’t be further from the past which gives him night terrors. But as he prepares to help his mother, Joyce (Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor), become closer to family, Tarell faces the return of a Shakespearean figure in the form of his father, La’Ron (John Earl Jelks), apparently returned from the dead. After years of exile for the violence and suffering he inflicted on his family because of his drug addiction, the old man came to redeem himself, in search of a forgiveness which will not be easy.

Inspired by Kaphar’s relationship with his own father, “Exhibiting Forgiveness” is a raw meditation that forces us to ask the uncomfortable question: Who is forgiveness really for?

Scripture is mentioned throughout the film, largely because Joyce is a woman of faith and makes a simple argument: “For if you forgive others when they sin against you, your Heavenly Father will forgive you also.” But if you don’t forgive others. their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins” (Matthew 6:14-15).

But Tarrell has a counterpoint: Should Isaac have forgiven his father Abraham for being willing to sacrifice him to please a capricious God? Scripture might speak of Abraham’s obedience, and even reward him for it, but what about Isaac’s fear as he faced death at the hand of his father?

In his first feature film, Kaphar explores issues that filmmakers have spent their entire careers exploring. Tarrell’s character in “Exhibiting Forgiveness” rings as true as the children tasked with forgiving their parents in Ingmar Bergman’s “”Autumn Sonata“and that of Pedro Almodovar”Pain and glory“As the greatest directors do, Kaphar forgoes didacticism and easy resolutions. Instead, he creates art for the wounded soul. (Notably, all of the paintings that appear in the film are the work own of Kaphar.)

While “Exhibiting Forgiveness” sometimes extends its scope to commentary on politics, social concerns and racism (the scene between Tarrell and a white man purchasing his painting might merit a full review of the film), Kaphar does his best to contain it. the emotions its characters feel – and the ones they desperately avoid feeling.

But this is not a film of emotional sadism. Instead, he invites us to look closer, to see beyond the cotton candy rooftops in Tarrell’s work and instead hold closely the gaze of the black boy on the canvas.

Whether Tarrell (or Kaphar) is able to find it in his heart to forgive a man for his past sins, the film is full of God’s grace. “Exhibiting Forgiveness” is not a film with easy answers — or any answers, for that matter — but I found myself grateful to Kaphar for enduring his humanity with such sincerity. I responded in the only way possible: I prayed for Kaphar and for myself.

“Exhibiting Forgiveness” is now streaming on Apple TV and Amazon Prime.