If you're interested in post-apartheid South Africa and the work of Archbishop Desmond Tutu's Truth and Reconciliation Commission, then this film won't be for you. Rather than a factual take on the organization, this film delivers a Hollywood heavy, based-on-a-true-story composite led by two actors with award fever, silly makeup (Whitaker's prosthetic nose has drawn comparisons to Squidward), a forced ending and love song (!??) to roll the credits to. If Disney made a film about apartheid it would look like this, and we should just count our blessings the director opted not to make this a musical. A subject of such historical importance deserves an important movie, not a feel-good film where everyone pats themselves on the back for the whitewash job they've done. In short, _The Forgiven_ is unforgivable.

In dealing with the legacy of apartheid, director Joffé makes something of a return to form after his various missteps after The Killing Fields and The Mission. Whitaker turns in a brilliant performance as Tutu, and Bana is on good, menacing form as the murderer in need of redemption.