An Eye for an Eye (2016) User Reviews

Beautiful message but difficult documentary

[blumdeluxe · 5/10 · 20 June 2017]

"An eye for an eye" delivers the story of the shooting of several innocent Muslims after the events of 9/11 and how the man responsible for that and facing a death sentence gets help from an unexpected side, from one of his victims.

As already mentioned in the headline, the movie delivers a beautiful message, one of forgiveness and love. It is a shame, in my eyes, that a country like the United States, that claims to be the leader of civilization, still sticks to something like the death row. It is a rare and moving event that out of all persons, a victim takes a stand for the accused and criticizes the charge. In this point, I totally agree with the movie and even think it is an important lesson especially in times of increasing hate and anxiety. What I find a bit difficult, though, is that, as he claims himself, the producer in the end become more of a friend than a neutral observer. Of course it is well possible that people change and if the accused really means the things he tells on camera, he surely deserves a second chance under new circumstances. Nonetheless I had to swallow when the movie tried to help him by portraying what a harmless guy he was before the shootings and how the events more or less overwhelmed him. With all due respect, but you shouldn't try to explain murder and you shouldn't play down wearing a swastika and SS symbols and many things more.

This is what leaves a bitter taste for me. Yet, I'd advise you to watch this film because you can learn a lot from it, just not, maybe, which role is the perfect one to shoot a documentary.

Thoughtful movie of a murderer forgiven despite being executed in Texas

[digiteum · 7/10 · 19 November 2018]

After 9/11 A white supremacist takes the law into his own hands and kills two people and wounds another. 10 years later he is executed on Jethro but his life has been moved by the forgiveness of one of the men he attempted to murder, who recovered from his wounds And shows another trait in Islam, Forgiveness. This helps the Accuse the man to come to terms with life and repent of his views. This ultimately leads to his own forgiveness of himself and he's turning around to accept Jesus Christ. A moving message told by sincere people in this epic film based on truth.

Not an easy watch but well worth it

[Thomas_the_Tank · 9/10 · 27 October 2020]

A true story about the power of forgiveness for ourselves and for others. It's a really touching story that's graciously told with truth and harrowing honesty.

It's not an easy watch because it touches on some hard truths that some folk would probably rather ignore and the subject matter can feel quite raw. The footage is real and moving.

I'm glad I watched it but I feel numb having done so.

i think Mark really did have remorse

[buckeyefanohiostate · 8/10 · 3 April 2021]

Really hard movie to watch but its does show that a man whos full of hate and anger who hates any one but his own skin type or religion can change and no matter what its never too late to change !! I love how this group of ppl come together to help a man who has caused them and there loved ones so much pain but gave Mark the most important gift ever forgivness and love.

Have you any compassion?

[edwin-wks · 10/10 · 23 August 2021]

The relatively low overall rating of 6.0 indicates to me that some viewers lack compassion even after watching this documentary, which is surprisingly more about forgiveness and love than the actual crimes of the man on death row. People rush to judgment about Mark Stroman about as quickly as his hatred for Muslims coalesced after 9/11.

This was a man who was condemned at birth by his parents and subsequently the state. His sister reported that he was singled out for maltreatment by his stepfather and their mother did nothing to protect her son. He became deeply traumatized by his early teens, running away from home 13 times. Even the child psychologist wrote that he saw the world as an inherently unstable and dangerous place. Simply put, he suffered from PTSD, and his brain was wired to detect and fight dangers.

Even though Mark did not admit it when Ilan questioned him, his hatred towards Muslims was truly displaced hatred towards his stepfather. When 9/11 happened, an alarm was triggered in his amygdala. The vulnerability he felt at the hands of his stepfather was reactivated when he witnessed the awful scenes of 9/11. Years of pent-up rage towards the stepfather became displaced onto innocent targets and released in the guise of patriotism.

This is the story of many disadvantaged children who suffered abuse in childhood, develop conduct disorders, get placed into foster care or juvenile centers, grow up into dysfunctional adults who then run afoul of the law and possibly find themselves in prison. Running parallel is the story of children who grew up in safe environments and turn into successful adults. One such child was Greg Davies who became the district attorney whose source of pride is the number of death sentences he procures. What kind of person puts up on his wall pictures of people he has placed on death row as they await death? Certainly not one of compassion.