CROSSROADS: A STORY OF FORGIVENESS

US, 2007, 90 minutes, Colour.
Dean Cain, Ryan Kennedy, Shiloh Fernandez, Peri Gilpin, Landon Liboiron.
Directed by John Kent Harrison.

This film was made for television, for the Hallmark Hall of Fame. Many viewers dismiss these films as emotional and moralising. While this may be true, when they do it well, they do it very well. This film could be important for younger viewers, the kind of high school high school students portrayed in the film.

While the film was made in British Columbia, it is set in an American town. Dean Cain plays a father with three children, a builder. He is busy about his work, contracts, praises his older son who is a college, neglects his middle son who is introspective and a music composer. He has a small daughter and she and her mother had killed in a car accident.

The film explores the different ways of grieving in the family, the middle son blaming his father. He is a particularly sullen 15 year old. The older son is much more common-sensed. The father goes to the police, wanting all the details and not being satisfied. He sees a successful lawyer on the television and approaches her, pestering her until she gives in to help him. They uncover witnesses as well as CC TV coverage. They approached the District Attorney, who takes on the case.

The family are surprised to discover that the reckless driver who caused the accident is an ordinary young 17 year old and that he is remorseful and apologetic, wanting to take responsibility for what he had done. The father has a one on one discussion with him, realizes his remorse fullness and proposes that the two of them go to schools to explain the situation, the father his grief and action, the boy what he had done and how he feels at about it. This makes a great impression on the students, except for the man’s own son who walks out, embarrassed, resentful of not being told.

When the father comes up with a different solution for the court: that the accident not be recorded on the boy’s record, that he do community service, that he continue to go with the father to visit schools and speaker on these issues. The father persuades his sons to agree with him.

In this sense, the film is one of restorative justice, of benefit to the person forgiven and having a salutary effect on those who forgive. Based on a true story, it is said that the father and the boy continues their work.

1. A true story? Crime? The law? Justice? Restorative justice? Understanding and forgiveness? Atonement?

2. An ordinary story, ordinary people, an ordinary American town? The family? Work, difficulties? Parents and children? The accident and its consequences?

3. The title, possibilities for a different perspective, forgiveness instead of vengeance?

4. Bruce, his work, the difficulties, relationships with the men, a stern taskmaster? At home, the crowd of Josh, ignoring Brodye? Love for his daughter? Love for his wife? The phone calls, his ignoring his son? Direction in which his life was going? Direction for the family? Tensions and dealing with them?

5. The ending, the daughter playing on the trampoline, going shopping, death? Sudden and irrevocable?

6. Bruce hurrying to the accident, his reaction, the amount of information available, the different reactions of his sons, his visiting the police, his abrasive manner, their response? The lack of witnesses, contradictions, lack of evidence, it being treated as an accident?

7. Erin, on the television, strong-minded lawyer, her cases, Bruce approaching her, her putting him off, his confronting her, her agreeing to help, television surveillance footage, the indication of the other car? Going to the witnesses, the differences of perspective? The other driver, the information? Making the case, taking it to the district attorney, his prosecuting the case? Erin and her work? admiring Bruce?

8. Josh, study, family support, visits? His life and college? Interactions with Brody? Brody and his character, his room, the music, sulking, devotion to his mother, anger with his father, sullen and not talking, his anger against Justin and punching him? Disillusioned with his father? Refusing to talk? Josh and his reaching out? The funeral, the aftermath, the guests, Brody listening to music in his room?

9. Going to court? Erin and her assistants, the preparation? The rash judgment about the identity of Justin? Well dressed and ordinary? His parents? Bruce wanting to see him alone, the discussion, Justin’s genuine apology, the effect on Bruce? His going to the meetings at school with him? And Brody’s walking out? Brody and Josh discussing the situation, Bruce going to see his sons, getting them to talk, their expression of their feelings, the plan and the deal, the final agreement? Bruce back at work, supervising, the men’s sympathy and settling his anger?

10. The Gutierrez family, the shock at the charges against Justin, their plans for his future, their supporting him, going to court, Justin not responding to them? His wanting to take responsibility for what he had done?

11. The court scenes, the prosecutor and his attack on Justin, the diagrams and surveillance video? The new proposal, the district attorney agreeing? The judge considering it? The implications, for the family, for the administration of justice, for Justin himself? His parents’ gratitude?

12. The visit to the school, after the clash with the principle? Bruce thanking her for the opportunity? Justin going onstage, Bruce and Justin talking, the attention of the students? Brody and his anger and his walking out? The prospect of future meetings? Bruce and Justin driving together? Brody’s apology to Justin?

13. The message of the film, the effect of forgiveness on the person forgiven as well as those forgiving?

14. The moral message of the film and young people’s response, issues of driving, recklessness? How effective as a television film?