“Unbroken,” Louis Zamperini, and the Power of Forgiveness

Last month saw the release of the film Unbroken, which tells the real-life tale of Olympic runner Louis Zamperini’s harrowing experiences during World War II. Throughout the movie, Zamperini (played by Jack O’Connell) displays acts of resilience and determination that keep him alive in the face of adversity. It’s an incredibly inspirational story.

Zamperini’s prodigious life lends itself to storytelling because of the ways certain defining characteristics continued to carry him through his trials. These core themes include the basics you often find in biographical war epics: bravery, survival, perseverance, etc. What’s unique about the Zamperini story is a theme and characteristic of his not often found in similar stories: forgiveness.

A new short film directed by Oscar-winner Ross Kauffman and released by the John Templeton foundation delves into how forgiving his past oppressors helped save Zamperini’s life. Unbroken: The Power of Forgiveness features interviews with several of Zamperini’s family members who muse on the late vet’s post-war rebirth. The film strives to convey the power and strength afforded to those who forgive their enemies. The following image shows up at the end of the 6-minute film.

Unbroken: The Power of Forgiveness is free to watch at the site linked below. Take a look and let us know what you think.

Watch the video at Templeton

Photo credit: Suzanne Tucker / Shutterstock

For more on the rejuvenating aspects of forgiveness, check out the following video from Big Think expert Stephen Post.