Grace to Forgive (2023)
Written By Sidney Bryant
Where to watch:
Overview
Faith and fury collides when a 21-year-old white male raged with hate is welcomed into an African Methodist Episcopal church with the intentions of killing those assembled by the common declaration of faith; selected for the color of their skin.
After being taken into custody by the FBI, David Ruthledge is escorted to a conference room at the GBI where he enjoys a meal from a local fast food restaurant. Joined by two FBI agents; it is now time to detail his account of that summer night he inserted himself into the congregation of an AME Church on the Southside of Sappho Count Georgia.
Agent Mathews takes the opportunity to learn of David’s level of education and upbringing; he uses this as a basis to further communicate with David, making him feel as if he has done something right. This gets David talking; he wants to tell his story. The depth of David’s ideology of elitism catches agents Mathews and Daniels by surprise. David has spent months if not years researching time periods where whites ruled minority countries and how powerful that time period was. He truly desires to see that day return.
David takes us back to that moment he arrived at the AME Church. That moment he was welcomed with open arms by the deacons and congregation where he was encouraged to participate in the study. That moment love was extended to him and he had to make a choice to execute his plan or surrender his life.
David shares with detectives how the biased media pushed him to search the internet for answers and how he became aware of white Americans becoming minorities because of their lack of awareness. Meanwhile survivor Celeste Tyson attends her first therapy session; overwhelmed with the loss of her husband JoJo, Celeste is struggling with regrets and how to move forward in raising her children.
Despite his reasoning and hatred, it’s only when he is face to face with family members of his victims in a small overcrowded South Georgia courtroom; he and the rest of the world realize that forgiveness is for the victims not the perpetrator. Even for the ones who survived the massacre it becomes evident that the only path forward is forgiveness. They offer him that forgiveness and compassion to hopefully give him a second chance at life even while jailed in prison for his actions.
Credits
Sidney D. Bryant Sr.
Writer/Director
Producers
Renee Pope - Samantha Newsome - Bryce G. Carver - Latrina Cope
Editor
Marcus Jo'Hnathor
Key Cast
Bryce G Carver
"David Ruthledge"
Kia Lavette Paulk
"Celeste Tyson"
Ronnie Graham Jr.
"Jo Jo Tyson"
Brian A Ray
"Judge Conner Fitzpatrick "
Ricky L. Day
"Christopher Daniels"
Stuart Floyd
"Michael Matthews"
Gina Laborde
"Dr. Charlene Johnson"
Sidney D. Bryant Sr.
"Pastor Richard Mizell"
Richard Denning
"Bishop Denning"
Robert Preston Jr.
"Chief Hayes"
Specifications
Project Type:
Feature
Runtime:
1 hour 56 minutes 30 seconds
Completion Date:
November 19, 2022
Production Budget:
10,000 USD
Country of Origin:
United States
Country of Filming:
United States
State of Filming:
Georgia
Language:
English
Shooting Format:
Digital
Aspect Ratio:
21:9
Film Color:
Color
Screening/Awards
Local Private Premiere
Douglas Georgia, USA
Date
November 19, 2022
In the News!
GRACE TO FORGIVE' FILM SET TO PREMIERE IN DOUGLAS ON NOVEMBER 19
Douglas NOW!
WALB With Karla Heath Sands
[Starts at 14:11]
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