There is a poignant scene in the 2013 movie, Philomena, starring Judy Dench, that makes a powerful statement about forgiveness.
The movie is based on a true story, set in Ireland in 1952. A teenager (Philomena) became pregnant out of wedlock and was sent to a convent where she gave birth to a son, Anthony. The toddler is sold to an American couple.
Philomena spends the next 50 years looking for her son with the final years teamed up with a BBC journalist who finds the son in America, deceased, and uncovers the deceptive practices of the convent including lying to Philomena about her son’s whereabouts.
In the final scene when everything is disclosed, the journalist, Martin Sixmith, played by Steve Coogan, is angry and wants some kind of justice.
Philomena turns to the nuns and says, “I want you to know that I forgive you.”
Sixmith says, “What? Just like that?”
Philomena says, “It’s not just like that. It’s hard. That’s hard for me. But I don’t want to hate people….”
Sixthmith says, “I’m angry!”
Philomena says, “Must be exhausting.”
There is something about forgiveness that is troubling. I see people unable to give it or receive it; I see people confused about it; I see people reject…
