Healing From Hate: Battle for the Soul of a Nation is the new documentary from filmmaker Peter Hutchison (Requiem for the American Dream) that examines the root cause of hate group activity and following efforts by former extremists to de-radicalize white nationalists. The film, an official selection of DOC NYC and Big Sky Documentary Film Festival, opens September 4, 2020 in Los Angeles – Laemmle Theaters via virtual cinema.
Healing From Hate examines the root causes of hate group activity through the bold work of those battling intolerance on the front lines, featuring Life After Hate, an organization founded by former Skinheads and neo-Nazis to help others exit hate groups. Documenting a stunning era of hatred in America from Trump, to Charlottesville, to Parkland, Healing From Hate follows these unique reformers in their work to de-radicalize White Nationalists, transform attitudes of intolerance, and heal communities torn apart by racism.
Having been provided with exclusive access, Healing From Hate follows these counselor/activists in their crusade against violence and intolerance – through community & family engagement, as well as direct “intervention” with radicalized youth – experiencing the conflict of their struggles firsthand.
Director Peter Hutchison is a critically acclaimed filmmaker, New York Times Bestselling author, educator and activist. He recently produced & directed Requiem for the American Dream: Noam Chomsky and the Principles of Concentration of Wealth and Power – an exploration of wealth inequity in American, grounded in an intimate, long-form interview with Noam Chomsky (Netflix). A NY Times Critics Pick and #1 top-selling doc on iTunes, the book version of the film debuted at #6 on the NY Times Bestseller list (Seven Stories Press). He is currently at work on a triad of films exploring hate in America, including the feature Healing From Hate: Battle for the Soul of a Nation. The companion pieces Angry White Men: American Masculinity in the Age of Trump, based upon the groundbreaking work of sociologist Michael Kimmel (Grasshopper Film), and Auschwitz: Facing the Legacy of Hatred, which follows ex neo-Nazi and Holocaust denier Tony McAleer on a personal journey of atonement through the Polish death camps (currently in post), complete the trilogy. His numerous documentaries include You Throw Like A Girl: The Blind Spot of Masculinity (MEF); What Would Jesus Buy? (Sundance Channel); the award-winning SPLIT: A Divided America (IFC Choice Indie) and follow-up SPLIT: A Deeper Divide (Documentary Channel); and Awake Zion, the Jerusalem IFF closing night event (Film Buff). He holds an M.S. in Counseling Psychology.