We might be decades removed from the vicious pre-Civil Rights era of US history, but in 2019, it’s clear that racism is still alive and well in our country. And in the film “Burden,” it’s clear that this isn’t anything new.
“Burden” tells the true story of a man that attempts to leave the Ku Klux Klan, filled with people that he considers family after a violent act gives him a change of heart. He’s assisted in this transition by a Reverend, who despite his own initial hesitation, takes the reformed racist under his wing to help the young man transition from a life of hate.
The film stars Garrett Hedlund, Forest Whitaker, Tom Wilkinson, Andrea Riseborough, Tess Harper, Crystal Fox, and Usher. “Burden” is the directorial debut for Andrew Heckler, who also wrote the script for the film.
“Burden” debuted at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival and has been MIA since. When we saw the film, we weren’t super high on it, despite some great performances and our review said, “In better hands ‘Burden’ might have worked, but its message that love can conquer all, and truly turn a deeply bigoted man in a socially conscience direction feels more like a dream than current reality.”
“Burden” arrives in theaters on February 28, 2020.
Here’s the synopsis:
When a museum celebrating the Ku Klux Klan opens in a small South Carolina town, the idealistic Reverend Kennedy (Academy Award®-winner Forest Whitaker) resolves to do everything in his power to prevent long-simmering racial tensions from boiling over. But the members of Kennedy’s congregation are shocked to discover that his plan includes sheltering Mike Burden (Garrett Hedlund), a Klansman whose relationships with both a single-mother (Andrea Riseborough) and a high-school friend (Usher Raymond) force him to re-examine his long-held beliefs. After Kennedy helps Mike leave behind his violent past, the Baptist preacher finds himself on a collision course with manipulative KKK leader Tom Griffin (Tom Wilkinson). In the face of grave threats to himself and his family, the resolute Kennedy bravely pursues a path toward peace, setting aside his own misgivings in the hopes of healing his wounded community. From Oscar®-nominated filmmaker Robbie Brenner (Dallas Buyers Club) and writer/director Andrew Heckler comes this dramatic true story of compassion and grace in the American South.