The Cure for Hate

Synopsis

The Cure for Hate documents the profoundly personal journey of atonement taken by Tony McAleer, a one-time skinhead and Holocaust denier, as he travels to the former Nazi extermination camp Auschwitz-Birkenau and explores the conditions that allowed for the rise of fascism in 1930s Europe. McAleer, who went on to co-found the anti-hate activist group Life After Hate after shedding his violent past, shines unique light on how men get into, and out of, violent extremist groups, and underscores the dangers of allowing hate to be left unchecked.

In the end, while Auschwitz-Birkenau serves as a haunting monument to how hate can breed monstrous and inhumane acts of cruelty and violence, Tony McAleer’s personal story – a story he’s brought to synagogues, classrooms, community town hall gatherings, law enforcement agencies, and the U.S. Congress – reminds us that transformation and healing are always possible. If a hardened neo-Nazi can find his way back from hate, then what lessons can a journey like his hold for the rest of us?

(Warning: The following film contains graphic images that may be disturbing to some viewers. Viewer discretion is advised.)

Release Date:2023

Duration: 83 min / 55 min (Abridged Version)

ISBN:978-1-893521-19-3

Subtitles:English

Trailers

Watch the trailer

Filmmaker Credits

Director, Producer, Writer

Peter Hutchison

Producer, Editor

Lucas Sabean

Writer, Co-Producer

Tony McAleer

Executive Producer

Friedrika Merck

Cinematographers

Marcin Kopiec & Maciek Glaz

Graphics by

Ben Radatz

Filmmaker Biographies

Tony McAleer

Writer, Co-Producer

Tony spent 15 years in the white supremacist and neo-Nazi movements, starting as a skinhead and evolving to leadership positions, and was instrumental in ushering in the internet, building one of the first white supremacist websites for Resistance Records in the mid-90s.

Tony’s expertise is gleaned from receiving over a thousand hours of one-on-one and group counseling to understand his own process. Tony has spent countless hours coaching and mentoring change in others and is a Certified Life Coach.

Tony has been involved in Life After Hate since its inception in 2011 and served as Executive Director from 2013-2017 while Life After Hate developed its online support groups and the EXIT USA program (based on EXIT Sweden’s model). In 2017, he became Board Chair until his departure in December 2019.

Tony has worked closely informing law enforcement and government from Attorney Generals to senior staff at the Department of Homeland Security. Tony testified before Congress and was recently at the Paris Summit for the Christchurch Call with the Prime Minister of New Zealand, and supporting government and law enforcement in Victoria, Australia, helping them grapple with the rising problem of violent white supremacist groups.

He is the author of The Cure For Hate: A Former White Supremacist's Journey from Violent Extremism to Radical Compassion, published by Arsenal Pulp Press.

Peter Hutchison

Director, Producer, Writer

Peter Hutchison is an award-winning filmmaker, NY Times Bestselling author, educator and activist.

He directed & produced Requiem for the American Dream: Noam Chomsky and the Principles of Concentration of Wealth and Power (Netflix), a NY Times Critics Pick and #1 selling doc on iTunes. The book version of the film was a NY Times Bestseller (Seven Stories Press).

The critically acclaimed Healing From Hate: Battle for the Soul of a Nation (2020, Freestyle Digital/MEF) has been described as a “raw masterpiece” – and examines the root causes of hate group activity through the bold work of former Skinheads & neo-Nazis, now engaged in de-radicalizing violent extremists, and transforming attitudes of intolerance.

Devil Put the Coal in the Ground, a holistic look at the ravages of extractive industry and corporate power in West Virginia, is slated for festival release in early 2022.

His longstanding commitment to issues around male identity has resulted in the films: You Throw Like A Girl: The Blind Spot of Masculinity (MEF), Angry White Men: Masculinity in the Age of Trump (Grasshopper), and The Man Card: White Male Identity Politics from Nixon to Trump (MEF).

He holds an M.S. in Counseling Psychology with a focus on Addictions and Systems Dynamics.

Lucas Sabean

Producer, Editor

Lucas Sabean is an editor, producer & filmmaker, whose output includes narrative & documentary features, commercial video, and a large body of experiential work.

He directed, produced & edited the soon-to-be-released Devil Put the Coal in the Ground (Rogovy Foundation grant recipient), directed, produced & edited The Man Card: White Male Identity Politics from Nixon to Trump (2020, Media Education Foundation, Sedona Film Festival). He co-directed & edited Angry White Men: Masculinity in the Age of Trump (2019, Grasshopper Films), produced & edited the critically acclaimed film Healing from Hate: Battle for the Soul of a Nation (2020, MEF/Journeyman Pictures/Freestyle Digital Media) which premiered at DOCNYC and was a SIMA award-winner. Directed, produced and edited You Throw Like A Girl: The Blind Spot of Masculinity (2020, MEF). He is also producing and editing The Cure For Hate: Bearing Witness to Auschwitz (2023, MEF). His other credits include his short film “Relievio” (2000, Slamdance, Telluride, Seattle & Chicago International Film Festivals), associate produced the narrative feature “Roof to Roof" (2001, Sundance Film Festival). His film “End of Era” (2003) was part of The Underground Zero film program, screening at more than a dozen International film festivals. “The Last Stand” (2008) won best feature film by a local filmmaker at the Backseat Film Festival in Philadelphia. Choreographer Paul Taylor has called his experimental films "superb - like poems made visible." He has an MFA from Boston University in Film Production.

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Praise

"This film is so powerful... [Tony McAleer's] journey to bear witness, interspersed with his personal story is incredible."

— June Morris
Board of Directors, National Council for Social Studies

"The Cure for Hate: Bearing Witness to Auschwitz is an important and timely film that deftly demonstrates the importance of history and memory in countering radicalization and awakening the conscience in our present moment."

— Damon T. Berry, Associate Professor of Religious Studies, St. Lawrence University

"I can't stress this enough, this film is something special and is not something you have ever experienced before. This film will move you...one of the best I’ve seen in 2023."

— Steve Kopian
Unseen Films

"This powerful documentary points insistently towards our own present, with the rapid rise of the extreme right in the US and Europe raising the specter of history repeating itself. Tony McAleer’s warning is also a call for compassion — and a cry for all of us to recognize the urgency of the terrible danger posed by antisemitism, Islamophobia, and racial hate around the world."

— Melani McAlister, Professor, American Studies and International Affairs, George Washington University

"A beautifully shot, well-directed film that... holds a substantial level of importance, not only about our past but our future. 4 1/2 Stars."

— Chris Jones
Overly Honest Movie Reviews

Tony’s journey — from a white supremacist Holocaust denier to someone using his voice to actively fight against the very ideologies he once espoused — is both sobering and inspiring. As the granddaughter of Holocaust survivors, this film resonates deeply with me. It underscores the vital importance of confronting hate and misinformation in all its forms. The Cure for Hate is a poignant reminder that we are all human, deserving of empathy and understanding. In a world increasingly divided by fear and intolerance, hearing from voices like Tony’s is not just important, it’s essential. This documentary gives me hope for a future where change is possible, even for those who seem beyond redemption."

— Meghan Stevenson-Krausz
Member of the Affiliate Council for Living Links and granddaughter of 2 Holocaust survivors from Austria-Hungary

"It's documentaries like this one that must keep the memory of the horrors of genocide over ideology alive today, or dare we repeat the past."

— Alan Ng
Film Threat

"Tony McAleer's story offers hope. Hope to those of us concerned about the consequential “othering” from those who have strayed from a path of love and acceptance and found their way back. 'The Cure for Hate' is an essential watch for anyone interested in understanding the roots of hatred and the capacity for human transformation. It speaks to the human spirit and the profound impact of forgiveness and self-reflection. A must see!"

- Cindy Silverman, 3G Philly Board Member

"Tony McAleer’s personal transformation from committed white supremacist and Neo-Nazi to community advocate for healing, compassion, and forgiveness is both powerful and instructive. This compelling story is a critical warning of the unescapable violence that accompanies extremist thinking, as well as a message of hope that it is never too late to turn away from hate.”

— Mikkel Dack, Associate Professor of History at Rowan University

"A riveting and deeply important film."

— Kathryn Spitz Cohan
Film Pittsburgh

"In today’s environment, with increasing division and othering, programs like Cure for Hate are more essential than ever. [...] The program’s focus on addressing the roots of hatred and violence speaks directly to the needs of our community and, we believe, many others across the nation."

— Jess Westhoff
Education Programs Manager, Wassmuth Center for Human Rights

"Tony McAleer takes us on a personal and historical journey that interweaves the rise of Nazism and the Final Solution with the heinous ideas and actions of white supremacists in the United States. Along the way, he explores the social and psychological circumstances that can lead people to espouse hatred and dehumanization. McAleer’s story is a testament to the power of self-reflection and compassion to overcome hate and heal humanity."

— Alexandra Minna Stern
Dean of Humanities at UCLA

"We’ve experienced firsthand the impact Tony’s work and the approach of Cure For Hate has had upon both students and community. [...] We’ve been impressed with the powerful impact of Tony’s personal journey has had on students and teachers."

— Polly Byers
Executive Director, Karuna Center for Peacebuilding

"The Cure for Hate provides avenues to process in a clear, apolitical and meaningful way. Against the backdrop of today’s current events, that is not easy to do. Though it’s been several months, the impact of The Cure for Hate lingers in Brattleboro, VT. I am still hearing from teachers and students how grateful they were for the experience."

— Susan Healy
Administrative Director, Windham World Affairs Council

"There is significantly more to do to impact school groups with messages about eradicating hate. This film will help us meet that need."

— Lori Sisson, PhD
Film Pittsburgh-Teen Screen Director

"This was such a valuable experience. My students were amazed at the lessons they learned from the video. There was so much they didn’t know about modern-day hate. They were especially interested to hear the director’s viewpoints and to watch how he wound the Holocaust history in with a person who has grown beyond hate."

— Teacher comment

"Antisemitism and other forms of hate are still seen today because some people view differences in religion, race, or culture as a source of conflict rather than something to be celebrated. This can lead to discrimination and prejudice, which can escalate into more serious forms of hate and violence. To combat this, it is important to educate people about diversity and promote mutual respect and understanding. We need to create safe and inclusive spaces where all individuals are valued and treated with kindness. Personally, I plan to speak up when I see discrimination and support organizations that work towards equality and inclusion."

— Student comment