Rated: M
Directed by: Andrew Heckler
Written by: Andrew Heckler
Produced by: Robbie Brenner, Bill Kenwright
Starring: Garrett Hedlund, Forest Whitaker, Tom Wilkinson, Andrea Riseborough, Tess Harper, Crystal Fox, Usher.
‘Perfect love drives out fear.’
Hitting a sledgehammer through a pane of glass introduces Mike Burden (Garrett Hedlund). He’s having fun with his mates; he’s teaching kids to be nice. He’s a Grand Dragon of the Ku Klux Klan.
Based on a true story, Burden shows Mike as he tries to see past his loyalty to the KKK and the father figure who raised him: leader of the KKK, Tom Griffin (Tom Wilkinson).
The film follows Mike as he begins to see past hate and resentment when he meets single mum, Judy (Andrea Riseborough) and how her young son doesn’t see colour, his best mate black and the son of an old high-school friend Clarence (Usher Raymond): someone Mike says to a KKK member he can talk to but wouldn’t sit and eat dinner with.
Set in 1996, tension rises in the small town of Laurens, South Carolina when the Klan opens up, The Redneck KKK Museum.
The black community led by Reverend Kennedy (Forest Whitaker) protests against the glorifying of the KKK’s hateful past.
What the film shows and what writer and director, Andrew Heckler has captured is not just a right and wrong side, or a good versus evil – there’s family and community in the Klan and in the flock of Reverend Kennedy.
The film makes the point of how important family is in the Klan, and how kind. And how hateful.
From the Klan there’s talk of protection and heritage, then there’s the Reverend talking of love thy neighbour, rebuke evil and the fire of love.
With Forest Whitaker you always know there’s going to be some authentic sincerity – used well here as the Reverend navigates his very human feelings of hate for those who lynched his uncle versus his love of God, to want to rise up to lift others.
Love is what saves Mike – from the increasing violence and threat of murder. It’s his love of Judy and seeing the world through the innocent eyes of her son. And it’s the embrace of acceptance and understanding from a man he once would have killed because of the colour of his skin.
I admit, I was bracing myself before watching this film, feeling oversensitive with all the protests and racial tension in the world. I find the violence in true stories harder to watch. But Burden is more drama than horror or crime.
This is a film about the individual, about Mike letting go of that American Dream. And if you don’t get it then it’s got to be someone’s fault.
About needing someone, ‘to step on to feel better.’
By turning away from resentment, Mike becomes free.
And at the moment, any message of Be Kind is very welcome.
Be kind peeps.