Directed by Ben Proudfoot, exploring how digital transformation is changing the game for the Los Angeles County Public Defender’s Office told by Defender Noah Cox, and a case that changed the destiny for his client Johnny. Johnny is a young man who was born with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome leading to intellectual impairments and other challenges.

There’s probably a hundred different ways that you could approach the topic of mental health and the justice system, it’s a poignant and complex topic so it’s open to a harsh, harrowing tone but surprisingly, Ben Proudfoot takes a hopeful route. The atmosphere holds almost a romantic note, especially when balanced with a classically styled and bouncy score. It also holds a very kind and giving air.

Proudfoot has a great variety of shot styles, creating something that’s modern yet with a penchant for classic era Hollywood in its colours and movement. It’s a tricky thing to cover this kind of topic within twenty minutes and do it justice but it feels like Proudfoot finds a good balance between the detail and the emotion. The success of that means it can focus on the personal side of things, it gives you enough of the bureaucratic side to understand the problem but doesn’t stray away from focusing on Johnny as a person.

Although at times it can stray a little too far into the sentimental, almost drifting into emotionally manipulative territory, especially when it dips into Noah Cox’s personal life. The editing and mixing together of different styles of footage works well to move the film at a good pace while holding onto a thoughtful, pensive atmosphere. The visual quality is also satisfyingly high, the shots of Cox in particular have a great texture to them.

Forgiving Johnny steps away from the norm of a harrowing, hard-hitting style when discussing the ways in which the justice system fails and chooses to focus on the intimate, hopeful side of things. It still respects the poignancy to Johnny’s story but brings simple humanity to the forefront rather than bureaucracy and policing. It has a sweet and thoughtful nature while being shot in a great varied way that builds a compelling structure.

Verdict: ✯✯✯✯ | 8/10

Screened as part of HollyShorts Film Festival 2023