Synopsis
“Burden” tells the incredible true story of Michael “Mike” Burden (Garrett Hedlund), an ardent young member of the South Carolina Ku Klux Klan who rose to the rank of Grand Dragon – and walked away from all of it with the help of a new love and an unlikely ally, the African American religious leader and social activist Reverend David Kennedy (Forest Whitaker). Mike Burden, rejected by his own racist family and raised by Klan leader Tom Griffin (Tom Wilkinson), becomes a pillar of the KKK and proponent of the divisive Redneck Shop, a Klan memorabilia store.
But then Mike meets and falls in love with Judy Harbeson (Andrea Risborough), a single mother deeply opposed to the Klan and to Mike’s allegiance to the group. Cut off from the only family he has ever known, Mike and Judy reach out to the Reverend, Mike’s former mortal enemy. In turn, Reverend Kennedy proves the power and conviction of his faith when he accepts Mike’s disavowal of the Klan and welcomes him into his home and his church. Together, they face down irate and vengeful Klan members and win over Reverend Kennedy’s skeptical parishioners, forming a true bond and forging a path towards redemption and forgiveness. [101 Studios]
Written & Directed By
Andrew Heckler
Starring
Andrea Riseborough, Forest Whitaker, Garrett Hedlund, Tom Wilkinson, Usher Raymond, Tess Harper
