The Other Cheek

Synopsis:

VIV FURNESS, a famous atheist writer, has been randomly attacked by a young man, LUKE.  VIV informs DAVID, a social worker, and RALPH, the arresting police officer, that he wants to meet LUKE face to face to see if he (VIV) can forgive someone who has harmed him.  This will be the subject of his next book: forgiveness in the absence of a religion telling us to forgive. LUKE unexpected arrives at VIV’s house. He doesn’t remember why he slashed VIV, until he remembers that he has read VIV’s book and that he, during a psychotic episode, wanted to kill VIV for “killing God” and taking hope away from him and his mother.  DAVID and RALPH return, shocked to see LUKE. As the four each confront their own need for forgiveness, LUKE tries to slash himself in remorse, VIV reveals that his real goal to see if he can forgive his abusive late husband, and LUKE’s mother CASSIE arrives to confront VIV. All five discover their own capacity to truly forgive – or not.