GRITtv: Beyond Hatred

On the night of Sept. 13, 2002, in Rheims, France, three neo-Nazi skinheads beat and killed 29-year-old François Chenu. The three had made a habit of roaming the city to beat up Arabs, Jews, “fags” — anyone they deemed different and “subhuman.” That night, they’d been searching for an Arab but instead came upon François, who, when asked, answered without hesitation that he was gay. Beyond Hatred is the story of François’ parents and siblings and their struggle to understand what they cannot excuse and to rise above hatred and the desire for revenge. The Chenus fight not only to save themselves from bitterness, but also to uphold the principles of tolerance for which François lived and died.