An award-winner at Seattle, Sydney, and Berlin film festivals, Beyond Hatred examines how a French family deals with feelings toward the perpetrators of the crime.
This straightforward documentary filmed in cinema verite style by director Olivier Meyrou tells a story simply, though it is by no means a simple story. One night in September 2002, 29-year-old François Chenu, an openly gay man, was walking through a park in Rheims when he was beaten and drowned in a pond by three skinheads during their violent, drunken evening of violence.
Beyond Hatred: A Compelling Documentary
After providing this background information, the film launches into the real story: exactly 730 days after the murder when Chenu’s parents (Marie-Cecile and Jean-Paul) prepare for the trial. In an effort to get beyond hatred for the killers, the family researches details of the attack, discussing what came before, the events on the night of the murder, and the pain and suffering following the crime. Instead of the impotent rage that most people would feel, Jean-Paul comes to the conclusion that a general failure of society and a specific breakdown in the family structure led to the disastrous outcome.
Beyond Hatred reveals how the dissolution of family often causes anti-social behavior. Conversely, it also shows through the Chenu family how a solid family foundation encourages love, kindness, and forgiveness. Using voice-overs and on-camera interviews (in French with English subtitles) with everyone involved in the case, the film takes the viewer through pre-trial and post-trial events.
Telling the Story of Beyond Hatred
The documentary concludes six months later with the Chenus reading a letter they wrote to the convicted murderers. In the letter, the family requests that the felons think about their past actions and strive toward tolerating differences in other people. Interestingly, Meyrou chooses not to show the faces (even in photographs) of François or his killers, thus making the story more universal.
Through static shots of the park where the murder occurred and interviews with people in natural settings without the benefit of cinematic manipulation, Beyond Hatred focuses more on the psychological and social elements of hate crime, rather than sensationalizing one particular tragedy. Even so, this film depicts love, hate, anger, and forgiveness in a compelling 85-minute drama. It’s a complex story without a happy ending.
Beyond Hatred 2005 (Au dela de la haine)
- This disturbing documentary shows a family attempting to move from anger to understanding regarding the horrific murder of their homosexual son.
- Starring Marie-Cecile Chenu, Jean-Paul Chenu
- Director: Olivier Meyrou
- Discs: 1
- Run Time: 85 minutes
- Rating: Not Rated
- Release Date: Widescreen DVD released 2008
- Additional Information: This film is in French with English subtitles.
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Leslie C. Halpern - Leslie C. Halpern, Romantic Films/Comedies Topic Editor, authored Passionate About Their Work, Reel Romance, & Dreams on Film.
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