Unforgivable (1996)

A man who batters women, after nearly killing his girlfriend in a violent rage, finds himself facing his own demons when he is forced to join an innovative group therapy program for abusive men.

Director:

Graeme Campbell

Writers:

Adam Rodman (story) (as A.R. Simoun), Adam Rodman (teleplay) (as A.R. Simoun)

Stars:

John Ritter, Harley Jane Kozak, Kevin Dunn

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
John Ritter	...	Paul Hegstrom
Harley Jane Kozak	...	Judy Hegstrom
Kevin Dunn	...	Milton 'Milt' Stella
Susan Gibney	...	Beth French
Gina Philips	...	Tammy (as Gina Phillips)
Mariangela Pino	...	Helen Jessup, M.D.
Aaron Leigh	...	Jeff Hegstrom
Elisabeth Lund	...	Heidi Hegstrom
James McDaniel	...	Spider
Steven Anderson	...	Doctor
Douglas Caputo	...	Steve (as Doug Caputo)
Michael Flynn	...	Ben Corbin
Carmen Fournier	...	Patrolman #2
Frank Gerrish	...	Dave
Curley Green	...	Group Member #1

Storyline

John Ritter plays a family man who puts his wife through domestic violence and his children through emotional torture. After leaving his family and almost killing his new girlfriend in one of his rages, he is ordered to seek professional help through an innovative therapy program or go to jail.

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Plot Keywords:

domestic violence | automobile salesman | fear | group therapy | marital abuse | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

30 April 1996 (USA)

Also Known As:

Asyghoriti orgi

Company Credits

Production Co:

Brayton-Carlucci Productions,Grossbart Barnett Productions,Hamdon Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

120 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Quotes

Paul Hegstrom: You know what? I don't give a damn what you think. You're just like everybody else I know. You have no spine.

User Reviews

Therapeutic Perspective on Unforgivable

As a clinical counsellor working in the treatment area of relationship violence, I found John Ritter's portrayal of a man coming to terms with his own violent behaviour to be astonishingly realistic. Ritter manages to play the real life character in Unforgivable with a depth that reaches past a surface presentation of the overt behaviour of the individual he plays. Ritter, his co-stars and the filmmakers have achieved this masterful work by richly exploring the character's thoughts, feelings and learned behaviours that ultimately manifest in his abusive personality. Themes such as cycles of abuse perpetuating through family systems and the discovery of empowerment to change through overcoming denial and accepting accountability are also well presented in the film. Unforgivable can actually make for more than quality entertainment for general audiences, as its story telling, realistic outcome, and the quality of its performances bode well as education for audiences genuinely concerned with changing their own abusive behaviours.