Facing Fear

Facing Fear is a gripping and emotional documentary film that explores forgiveness, reconciliation, and the challenging journey towards healing. It was released in 2013. The film is adroitly directed by Jason Cohen and features Matthew Boger and Tim Zaal as the main characters in an intriguing buildup that chronicles an intense real-life story.

The storyline is a factual one, set in two completely different periods of the lives of the protagonists, Matthew Boger and Tim Zaal. The movie pivots around the transformation of their relationships. When they first encounter each other, they are on opposite sides. Matthew, a gay teenager, is thrown out of his home, and Tim, a hate-filled street punk, is part of a neo-Nazi gang. This intersection leads to a violent beating and the near-death of Matthew. Flash forward to many years later, they meet again under different circumstances at the Museum of Tolerance in Los Angeles, an event that forces both men to confront their past and the resultant fear, pain, and hatred.

Matthew Boger plays himself, showing profound courage and praiseworthy resilience. He authentically embodies the youthful innocence and oppression of a kid who is disowned by his mother due to his sexual orientation. Subsequently, he must make his way across the country, surviving the streets of Los Angeles. His ultimately turbulent face-off with Tim Zaal's gang pushes him to the brink of life and marks a permanent impression on his life.

Tim Zaal, on the other hand, portrays himself as a hate-inspired individual. He embodies the universe's rage and prejudice against diversity and inclusivity. He is a dominant part of a neo-Nazi gang that rigorously persecutes those it considers are outsiders or different. His character exudes a deep sense of malevolence in the first half and continually shifts to remorse and redemption as the film unfolds.

The film is not just a contemplation on hate crimes and their psychological toll, but more significantly, about forgiveness and the transformation of individuals. It is a film that takes us through an unsettling world of hatred and violence before leading us to redemption and acceptance. Throughout this unsettling journey, we witness the profound change of characters and their forced confrontation with their past selves.

Facing Fear meticulously examines the profound implications of hate crimes not just on the victims but also on the perpetrators. It poses significant questions about forgiveness, human resilience, and the long road to reconciliations. Furthermore, whether men like Zaal can truly change, and if so, whether others (especially their victims) can accept this change.

The sheer strength of this film lies in Cohen's incredible storytelling. His knack of alternating between the past and the present ensures the audience remains engrossed in the unique narrative. This brutal account of Boger and Zaal's emotional journey makes a striking impact, narrated against the backdrop of harrowing anecdotes and the visceral reality.

Giving voice to both the victim and the perpetrator, Cohen brings clarity to the societal prejudices and challenges accepted notions of victimhood, guilt, and retribution. The director doesn't shy away from shedding light on the grim aspects of hate crimes or the potential for atonement and reconciliation.

Matthew Boger and Tim Zaal deserve credit for their authenticity they brought to their roles. Not only do both men share their painful memories, but they also demonstrate their courage and humility by forgiving and learning from their past.

An unsettling yet profoundly impactful documentary, Facing Fear, is an exploration of the potency of forgiveness and the extraordinary will of the human spirit to look beyond the differences. The film is a masterful narration of an unlikely reunion and an exploration of how two individuals manage to transcend their past. It is a stirring representation of how tolerance and forgiveness can overcome the deepest divisions and enmity.