Paulist Productions' new film tackles tough issue of forgiveness

by Stefani Manowski

From the beginning of time, violence has invaded humanity. The Big Question, the latest film by Paulist Productions, uses examples of violence – the shooting at the Amish school house, the Oklahoma City bombing, Apartheid and others – with commentary by contemporary spiritual leaders to help answer the questions: Could we forgive? Should we forgive?

“In this time, when the world teeters on disaster in Iraq, the Middle East and Africa, the question is more important than ever,” said Emmy award winner and Academy Award nominee Vince DiPersio, who directed the film. “The choice is crystal clear. To forgive, as so many spiritual leaders implore us to, or heed the angry voices urging us to take revenge.”

	Sister Helen Prejean, author of Dead Man Walking, gives testament to the power of forgiveness in The Big Question. View the trailer at bigquestionthemovie.com

The goal of the film, visioned by Paulist Father Frank Desiderio and lauded at the D.C. International Film Festival held at George Washington University March 9, was to exemplify forgiveness as witnessed through different religions, cultures, science, biology and historical events.

The collective wisdom of Sister Helen Prejean, author of Dead Man Walking; Desmond Tutu, Nobel Peace Prize recipient; Deepak Chopra, MD, an expert in mind body medicine and prolific author; Thich Nhat Hanh, Vietnamese political and peace activist; Ravi Shankar, renowned humanitarian; Civil Rights leader Joseph Lowry; and Hopi elders give testament to the power of forgiveness and compassion.

“To have the opportunity to sit with people who have thought this through, or even more incredibly dealt with it after experiencing horrendous trauma in their life, was a chance no curious person could pass up,” said Mr. DiPersio.

The film utilizes cutting edge scientific research and expert psychologists to explore forgiveness on many levels.

“My job as I see it is to lay the issue out there in a clean, clear way that lets people wrestle with it in their own way,” Mr. DiPersio said. “People have the answers; they don't need me to provide them”

“Forgive or not is the question of our times,” he said.

Get more information on the film and find out how to host a screening at www.bigquestionthemovie.com.

Read past Paulist Profiles here