Manhattan College To Host Screening Of Groundbreaking Film The Power Of Forgiveness

RIVERDALE, N.Y. – Manhattan College will host a free public screening of the groundbreaking film The Power of Forgiveness in Smith Auditorium on Monday, March 5 at 7:30 p.m.

Produced by Journey Films, the 60-minute documentary examines the role forgiveness can play in alleviating anger and grief, as well as the physical, mental and spiritual benefits that come from forgiveness. It combines character-driven stories about the most dramatic transgressions imaginable with other stories that feel more familiar and understandable to the viewer.

The Power of Forgiveness conveys stories and interviews with people from many faith traditions: teacher Thich Nhat Hanh on forgiveness in the Buddhist religion; Nobel Peace Laureate Elie Wiesel on forgiveness in the Jewish faith; author Azim Khamisa on forgiveness and Islam; Rev. James Forbes, pastor of Riverside Church in New York, on forgiveness from a Christian perspective; and best-selling author Thomas Moore on forgiveness from a spiritual dimension.

The stories include tales of forgiveness in gangs and the building of a Garden of Forgiveness at Ground Zero in New York City. Doctors, psychologists and psychotherapists present their thoughts on the benefits of forgiveness and the hidden costs of unforgiveness.

Journey Films, the award-winning filmmakers who brought the feature-length documentary BONHOEFFER to theaters nationwide, plans to launch The Power of Forgiveness on PBS in June. Prior to the release, special screenings are taking place across the country through early April.

BONHOEFFER, the dramatic story of German theologian and Nazi resistor Dietrick Bonhoeffer, drew wide acclaim and was called “a touching narrative on the nature of faith” by the New York Times.

Filmmaker Martin Doblmeier, who led more than 75 discussions of BONHOEFFER, will present the screening and lead a discussion about The Power of Forgiveness. Doblmeier has traveled to more than 40 countries in the last two decades to profile numerous religious leaders and communities, heads of state and Nobel Laureates. He has been a guest on programs such as National Public Radio’s The Diane Rhem Show, Eye to Eye with Connie Chung and CNN’s Showbiz Today.

For more information about this event, please contact Dr. John Wilcox, vice president for mission at Manhattan College, at (718) 862-7442 or e-mail john.wilcox@manhattan.edu.

Members of the media who would like to cover the event should call Scott Silversten at
(718) 862-7232 or e-mail scott.silversten@manhattan.edu. Manhattan College is located at West 242nd Street near Broadway in the Riverdale section of the Bronx, one mile from the Westchester County line and accessible by MTA subway line 1.

Founded in 1853, Manhattan College is an independent, Catholic, coeducational institution of higher learning offering more than 40 major programs of undergraduate study in the areas of arts, business, education, engineering and science, along with graduate programs in education and engineering. For more information about Manhattan College, visit www.manhattan.edu.