Support the One Million Viewers Campaign

Editor’s note: This wonderful online campaign is now over after more than $30,000 was raised for peace initativies worldwide. The unforgettable film, Beyond Right and Wrong was viewed online by over 60,000 people and watched by up to ten million television viewers. You can still find the film online at this link.

In February 2014, filmmaker Lekha Singh launched the One Million Viewers campaign — an online campaign to promote the viewership of  award-winning film, Beyond Right and Wrong. The film presents the stories of people who have experienced loss and the stories of people who have caused that loss. From the Rwandan Genocide to the Troubles in Northern Ireland to the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict, people from different sides of the violence tell their stories—their anger or remorse, their pain, their paths to recovery. The trauma of violence, the value of truth, the complexities of forgiveness and the potential of reconciliation are all examined in this powerful film.

Stay tuned for the next social impact film selected by FilmRaise — an innovative initiative that raises money for groups working for social change by encouraging individuals to watch their selected film online and have 50 cents automatically donated to a charity of their choice. Their partners include Free the Children, Women for Women International, The Malala Fund, WITNESS, The Forgiveness Project, and many more.

1000 views = $500 for peace work

We encourage you to watch the film Beyond Right and Wrong and take a few moments to leave your thoughts below.

What moved you?

What surprised you?

What concerned you?

What inspired you?

, , , ,

21 Responses to Support the One Million Viewers Campaign

  1. Sara C September 21, 2014 at 10:19 pm #

    “The suicide bomber will find a way through, and the peace maker will find a way through” That is the line that most struck me in this amazing movie. Watching these people confronting the killers of their children/families with genuine forgiveness in their hearts shows me that there are genuinely good people in this world and that peace, as abstract and far away a concept it may seem, is attainable. It may not be easy, given the atrocities some of these people have witnessed, but if we learn to reconcile and see each other, not as demonized monsters, but as imperfect human beings, peace can be achieved.

  2. Ashley D February 14, 2015 at 10:59 pm #

    I honestly think it is very brave and courageous for people to forgive someone who has done something so hurtful towards them. This video showed me that revenge has no purpose; it will not make someone’s loved one come back to life. Reconciliation is the only way to make peace with ourselves and others. It inspired me to believe that there is hope for this world.

  3. Kira M April 19, 2015 at 12:33 pm #

    “Forgive and remember”, should replace the famous saying, “Forgive and forget”. Facing the murderer of your beautiful six year old baby girl, your baby boy, and all of your children; Forgiving does not even seem like an option and certainly not forgetting. Truthfully, that example is a bit to extreme but forgiving and moving on is part of human nature, in my eyes. This video showed me that in some cases there are mothers who would forgive the murderers of their children and that reconciliation is important in the world so we don’t go around in a vicious circle. Because ultimately, seeking vengeance is just the first step to it.

  4. Tyler S May 6, 2015 at 4:07 pm #

    It is great how these people have learnt to come to terms with what has happened and then forgave the people who have committed the crimes against their families and I do not know how they are able to do it. I think most people we know would not be able to do that including myself. I find it amazing how they can just forget about everything that has happened to better their community. It is like Beata Mukangarambe says at the end that if people did not forgive the wrong doings that have happened it would be exactly like it was during the war.

  5. Sabrina May 9, 2015 at 11:14 am #

    What moved me the most throughout this whole movie is how every victim eventually finds himself in a position where he is above the person who wronged them; how every victim one day realizes that “talking prevents you from staying a victim forever” and finally how every victim understands that forgiving isn’t forgetting. Before watching this film, I would have never thought of these subtle details that allow one to forgive the most atrocious actions from another. To me, this movie clearly shows our society that reconciliation is the only way to make peace with ourselves and with others.

  6. Yanin H. May 10, 2015 at 10:50 am #

    Beyond Right and Wrong is one of the best movies about reconciliation and forgiveness that I have seen so far. It is a really inspiring movie that I enjoyed watching, and it also contains a really powerful message: reconciliation and forgiveness is not impossible, even for the worst crimes. Each story has a victim who suffered the loss of one or more important person, and a perpetrator who regrets causing such pain. In each case, they try to find a solution of peace and forgiveness from both sides and that is what surprised me the most. I was moved by the maturity of the victims, by their way of seeing the bright side of the worst situations, like the Joe and Patrick’s case, where they both found a common ground and now they share the powerful message behind their story to other people. I was surprised by the relationships between victims and perpetrators. All the victims had one thing in common: they all kind of agreed that the best way of moving on with their lives was facing those who had harmed them the most. All the perpetrators had one thing in common as well: they all found out that explaining their reasons for violence and therefore being forgiven was the only way to clear their consciences and start living again.

  7. Shanelle J. May 11, 2015 at 10:55 pm #

    We live in a world where we are used to the idea of an “eye for an eye.” We tend to solve violence with violence. For example in war, if a soldier shoots a soldier from the opposite side, a soldier from the opposite side will shoot back. Within seconds violence is used to get revenge and solve the problem that was created. This is why I was surprised when there was a genocide in Rwanda and conflict between Israeli and Palestine. Due to the fact that many family members, friends, loved ones etc… were being killed. Yet people found peace within themselves and forgave the perpetrators. This act of kindness inspired and moved me at the same time. If the people who lost their children, parents, friends, family and loved ones to violent crimes (which were committed by citizens) can forgive the perpetrators for what they have done. Than it gives me hope for the future due to the fact that these victims decided not to act violently. They decided to be peaceful and act in a calm manner once they received help from group therapy and/or talked to other individuals going through the same thing.

  8. Maegan May 11, 2015 at 11:07 pm #

    The film as a whole was very inspiring – from the stories that the people from all around the world told, to the donations that will be made from simply watching the film. However, one quote that really stuck out to me was “Our blood is the same color, our pain is the same pain, and our tears are just as bitter” – Rami (Palestine & Israel story).
    In such a war torn country where the two groups have been in constant conflict for so long now, it’s amazing to see such understanding for the ‘enemy’. Rami realizes that although everyone is different, we are all human and ultimately the same and equal.

  9. Jamie May 12, 2015 at 12:50 am #

    This video moved me because I saw it as a spark of hope. Even in the worst of situations, peace can be promoted in an active way without the use of violence. I was really surprised about how the victims who’ve lost so much were able to keep calm and just listen to the other side of the story. It was just so inspiring to see the courage demonstrated by both the victims and their perpetrators to come forward and just talk to rid themselves of any negative feelings one may have had for the other.

  10. Rebecca May 14, 2015 at 2:22 pm #

    The documentary Beyond Right and Wrong was an extremely moving and thought provocative movie. The thing that I thought was most surprising about this film was the fact that it talked about perpetrators and victims working together to build a better, stronger future. Often, these two groups of people are separated, and alienated after the conflicts are over, but everyone has suffered trauma is different ways. At the end of the day, everyone is human, and everyone has to deal with the aftermaths of the violence, and this is something that is often forgotten. This has a lot to do with the Reconciliation Stories I listened to : people must learn to understand each other, listen to the other person, because things aren’t always as simple as they appear to be. This is what we see with Joe and Pat, with the story of the murder of the father in the bombing. There wasn’t one particular thing that moved me, but the whole of the stories and experiences, and what they showed the spectator about the tough realities that exist, and that must be faced after a war, and that the only way to move on, and fight to never have it happen again is to come together as one, and find peace with one another.

  11. Niloofar Dadkhah December 9, 2015 at 7:04 pm #

    After watching this movie, the thing that affected me the most is the power of human connection and understanding. I was very affected about how the killer talking with the family of the killed and asking for forgiveness reduced the pain of that family’s loss. Despite the loss of children or relatives, the family’s forgiveness gave them the opportunity to release their thoughts and bad memories. For instance, a Palestinian family, who lost their daughter, did not accept revenge. They wanted peace and didn’t want to continue the cycle of killing. I want to suggest this movie to all of the killers or families of the slain. If they talk together, maybe they can release their pain. Also, I want to recommend it to the politicians who don’t understand the consequences of war. When there are a lot of disagreements between two groups of people, the best way of solving the problems is discussion! In the movie, it is said, “an injury forgiven is better than an injury revenged.”

  12. Julia Graziani December 11, 2015 at 12:20 am #

    Facing the murderer of anyone close to you is very hard to do, but hearing their side of the story is probably the most difficult thing to do. I can’t even imagine facing someone who murdered my family and being able to stay calm and listen to what they have to say, I’d probably get very frustrated from all the anger built up. I can’t imagine ever forgiving someone for killing my family, but it’s the right thing to do. Not only because people say that forgiveness is the right thing to do for the person causing the pain, but it’s the right thing to do for you, because usually forgiving someone or listening to their story can give you closure and help you come to peace with it.

  13. Darie P December 14, 2015 at 2:41 pm #

    This documentary has been extremely moving. We often hear about these murders and genocides, but rarely hear about the aftermath and the victims left. Beyond Right and Wrong gave an insight about their situation and how they are left to deal with their emotions and it has brought me on the verge of tears more than once. I find the survivors so strong to be able to co-exist with their perpetrator, to be able to look the murderer of their fathers and mothers in the eye and have a civilized conversation with them. These people inspire me as they chose to go beyond anger and resentment, they realize that nothing can come from it; it won’t bring their loved ones back. One person who has marked me was David’s mother. She expressed thoughts that are similar to mine, but our situations are so different. She must feel so much pain, and I admire how she can get through this. This documentary has made me really think about the atrocities that happen around the world through both lenses, and I just hope that we can all find peace and forgiveness in this world.

  14. Sarah-Jessica D'Avirro February 29, 2016 at 2:52 pm #

    The film, Beyond Right and Wrong, was moving, powerful and inspiring. The types of traumatic events that these families endured occur almost everyday of our lives. There are so many situations in which families experience the unimaginable: loosing a child or children, no longer having a family to talk with, or loosing your eyesight in seconds. These actions the perpetrators take are incomprehensible. However, the family’s who grieve the loss of loved ones and later FORGIVE the offenders is baffling. To be able to look at someone in the eye who took everything away from you and forgive them takes courage and strength. Personally, I do not know how the family members did what they did. The fact that every story ended with forgiveness is what moved me the most. No matter what shocking story was presented, the individuals come to realize they needed to move on.

  15. Leah Mechaly May 7, 2016 at 7:33 pm #

    The video Beyond Right and Wrong was both inspirational and touching. Hearing about the atrocities that have taken place is extremely difficult to imagine, mostly because I have never been exposed to them. This video is a beautiful way of informing others and acknowledging the victims. But what is most challenging to understand, in my opinion, is how these families have learned to forgive the perpetrators that have haunted them. Simply facing the people who took everything they have away from them is a hard thing to do, however, I believe that they did the right thing.

  16. Steven Philippas May 8, 2016 at 2:09 pm #

    I was the most surprised by the village in Rwanda with the Gacaca Courts. I was surprised that they perpetrators were able to be freed just by admitting their crimes and how they felt remorse for them. A bit of community service and conversations is probably not enough of a punishment for the people they slaughtered during the genocide, as it evident by Beata. Perhaps these courts did not do enough to make sure all the parties involved felt good with their decisions, if Beata was asked if her families killer could live in the same village she probably would have said no.

  17. Steven May 12, 2016 at 4:34 pm #

    This film changed my way of thinking for forgiveness. Before i thought that forgiveness is almost impossible to give to someone who has hurt you. I was surprised by how many of the victims found forgiveness to their perpetrators. This is a great film that really opens the viewers eyes to something new.

  18. Brendan O'B May 12, 2016 at 9:16 pm #

    I was particularly shocked to hear that Emmanuel, a person who killed children during the Rwandan Genocide, took care of orphans after he left prison. And immediately, it shames me to admit, but I started wondering and assuming the worst of what he might be doing or plotting to do with those kids. But then I stopped myself, and thought that he was brave to let himself be filmed on camera and completely admitting what he did. I’m positive that he had genuine remorse.

    Near the end of the film, a former soldier goes on to make a peaceful protest against a group of people who have wrongfully taken Palestinian land. On the march there, he said something like: “Ten years ago, I would have been trying to kill these people. Look at where we are now.” It’s a very simple reflection but it moved me nonetheless. I thought it was a sight to behold to see a former violent soldier becoming an advocate of peace and accomplishing a great deal of positive peace. Maybe it’s too idealistic to expect that every single killer can turn a new leaf, but if we just gave people the chance, we can see a greater force for change.

  19. aleksandra seweryn May 12, 2016 at 10:35 pm #

    This movie was incredibly inspiring and really moved me. To see victims actually talking about their traumas and to see their pain is a very different experience from simply hearing about atrocities on the news. The murders or their loved once and all the horrific events they have gone through seem unimaginable, and unforgivable. However, some of the individuals did end up forgiving their perpetrators, and that was the most incredible part of the film. They did not have to forgive their perpetrators, and it still did not excuse their acts, but it is in many cases vital to be able to have closure and move on with a trauma. Forgiveness can be therapeutic, and in any case, healing is the most important process for a victim.

  20. Ricardy Casimir December 6, 2016 at 10:53 pm #

    Watching this film was very interesting, as it made us see aggressors and people who did horrible things as human beings, prone to shame and guilt. This documentary was about people forgiving other human beings doing evil things to them, instead of looking for revenge, and that alone is not common, since the normal reaction would be anger, grief or denial. But I find it even more incredible for these people to listen and have a discussion with individuals who had killed members of their families. Even more incredible, they forgave them, and didn’t let anger overwhelm them. This takes a lot of courage, and I don’t know if I could forgive someone who killed members of my family, even if I knew this was the way to be at peace.

  21. Annesha Persaud December 7, 2016 at 8:00 pm #

    This moving film discussed what true forgiveness is. Though these victims faced horrible acts of violence, they’ve learned to pardon their aggressors. Furthermore, I was amazed that these criminals were capable of committing decent and kind acts. I’ve always presumed that wrongdoers were incapable of demonstrating a humanitarian side. This movie proved me wrong, especially with Emmanuel’s case. This goes to show that everyone has the chance to rehabilitate themselves into a better being and that forgiveness is the key to true peace of mind.

Leave a Reply

Powered by WordPress. Designed by WooThemes