For me, it is largely about forgiveness. Thorne was inspired to write the script after his cousin, Michael Forsyth, was murdered in Spryfield in 1995. It got me thinking about race in this city, class and the justice system and all this stuff, Thorne said.
It comes from growing up here. I just thought that I would like to see a film that talks about some of these issues, poses some questions and stimulates some dialogue about it. Thorne pitched the story in Toronto in 2001, and attracted the attention of director Clement Virgo.
It dealt with the themes and aesthetics that interest Clement, Thorne said. It was a story about race, boxing, family, brothers, working class, urban. Along with Sutherland, the film also stars Tonya Lee Williams, Flex Alexander, Laura Regan and Danny Glover, who plays the father of the brutally beaten man.
Working with Danny was probably the closest I've ever been to working with somebody the same calibre as my father, Sutherland said, adding he was an out of work at the time he auditioned. I didn't think in a million years they would give the role to me. I was 30 pounds overweight, but Clement saw his boxer and trusted me with something he was working on for years.
It was the beginning of a great adventure in my life. To prepare for the role, Sutherland spent five hours a day for three months training in the ring. It changed the way I walked, the way I stood, the way I spoke to people, he said.
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