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Forest Whitaker and Garrett Hedlund Explore Racial Tensions in 'Burden' at the Spring KCET Cinema Series on February 25

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Q&A immediately following with writer/director Andrew Heckler and producer Robbie Brenner.

Based on the true story of Michael Burden (Garrett Hedlund), who rose to the top rank of Grand Dragon of the South Carolina Ku Klux Klan. When he ultimately decides to walk away from life as he knows it, Burden receives the unlikely support of African American religious leader and social activist Reverand David Kennedy (Forest Whitaker) as well as his new girlfriend (Andrea Riseborough). The cast includes Tom Wilkinson, Tess Harper, Usher and Crystal Fox. Winner of the Audience Award at Sundance, the film is written and directed by first-time filmmaker Andrew Heckler.

“I wanted to do this because I wanted to figure out who these people were and get under their skin a little bit so I can tell a story about how you change someone like that,” Heckler explains. “How you can effectively change someone’s life from real bigotry and racism? How did Mike Burden get in this situation and how’d he get out? In order to write that movie, I have to understand who he is, how that Klan lifestyle can be attractive, what it feels like to be in that family?” 

The film screens at 7 p.m. at the ArcLight Cinemas in Sherman Oaks. Immediately following the screening, Deadline’s chief film critic Pete Hammond, who can also be seen on KCET’s Must See Movies, will moderate a Q&A session with writer/director Andrew Heckler and producer Robbie Brenner. “Burden” will be released in theaters by 101 Studios on Feb. 28, 2020.

The spring season of the KCET Cinema Series runs from February 11 through March 31. The ArcLight Cinemas Sherman Oaks is located at 15301 Ventura Blvd. and nearby parking is available. To learn more about the series, call (201) 747-5238.

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