Facing Fear

When he was 13, Matthew Boger's mother threw him out of his home because he's gay. While living on the streets of Hollywood, he was savagely beaten by a group of neo-Nazi skinheads. Boger managed to survive the attack and escape life on the streets. Twenty-five years later, Boger was working at the Museum of Tolerance and found himself in a conversation with former neo-Nazi, Tim Zaal. The two men had soon realised they had met before... Zaal was one of the attackers who beat Boger and left him for dead.With their worlds turned upside down, the two embarked on a journey of forgiveness and reconciliation that challenged both to grapple with their own beliefs and fears. Neither could imagine it would lead to an improbable collaboration... and friendship.AcademyAward-nominated 'Facing Fear' retraces the haunting accounts of the attack and the startling revelation that brought these men together. While delving deep into their backgrounds, the roots of the ideologies that shape how they handle the reconciliation process are exposed. Self-doubt, anger, and fear are just a few of the emotions they struggle through as they come to terms with their unimaginable situation.Shot on location in Los Angeles, the film is the theatrical directorial debut of Jason Cohen. Edited by the award-winning Tom Christopher with cinematography by Svelana Cvetko (Academy Award®-winning 'Inside Job') the film takes an introspective trip through the world of early '80s Hollywood while delicately addressing the past events that shaped the men involved, from early childhood to their present relationship.