Director: Jason Cohen
At 13 Mathew Boger was bullied at school and then thrown out onto the streets by an unforgiving mother for being gay. One night in Hollywood Mathew is hanging outside “Okie Dog” when a group of unprovoked Neo-Nazi’s decided to take the boots to Mathew, beating him within an inch of his life. The only thing that saved Mathew was that they thought he was dead and left. Twenty five years later Mathew is a the manager of the Museum of Tolerance, one day a former skinhead named Tim Zaal came in to give a presentation on his past. Within minutes of meeting each other both realized that the aggressor and the victim that fateful day in front of Okie Dog were speaking face to face.
Through forgiveness the unlikely duo are able to put the past behind them and form a friendship.
The story is almost to implausible to believe, a text book example of stranger than fiction. Both Tim and Mathew give their account of that fateful night, as well as an inside peek into what they do now. At 23 minutes the film goes by way to quick. We see Mathew with scars on his face without knowing where they came from, nor do we find out why Tim now walks with a limp and a cane. A testament to Director Jason Cohen’s skills that after viewing this finely crafted short you want more. Cohen serves up an engrossing appetizer making you want to order the entrée.
A truly remarkable documentary short.
Grade-90
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