Why I Wrote Seventy Times Seven

When I finally decided to bring my film training into practice, I knew I wanted to direct something meaningful — something that came from the heart. Seventy Times Seven became that project.

I was eager to create my first narrative short film and wanted the story to reflect something deeply personal. Forgiveness is one of those things that’s often easier said than done, especially when someone’s hurt you in a way that feels impossible to reconcile. I’d been wrestling with that question for a long time. How do you let go of real pain, especially when it’s still affecting you?

I kept thinking about how much Jesus talked about forgiveness. It’s one of the core messages He shared during the Sermon on the Mount. So I asked myself: What does forgiveness actually look like when someone is toxic? What does it mean to let go, without opening yourself up to more harm?

Making the Film

As someone who loves deeply, I’ve found it hard to move on from hurt. Writing this script was my way of processing that. The characters are fictional, but the emotion is very real. I wrote the first draft in just three days, and we filmed it with friends from my church. None of them were trained actors, which made the process even more special. We shot most of it in one day, with a second day for pickups.

The original version was a bit longer and more specific about what the father had done. Some viewers felt triggered by those details, so I decided to recut the film and tighten the story. Now, it leaves more space for people to relate their own experiences. It’s not about excusing toxic behavior. It’s about releasing the grip that pain has on your life — not for them, but for your own peace.

A Moment That Stuck With Me

One moment that stayed with me was when a biker I met at a gas station later told me he watched the film and cried. He said it inspired him to reconnect with his daughter. That reminded me why I made this in the first place — to help someone else heal, even in a small way.

Why Forgiveness Still Matters

Forgiveness doesn’t mean you ignore what happened. Sometimes the healthiest thing you can do is walk away. But the act of forgiving frees your heart from bitterness. It’s not about the other person. It’s about keeping your own heart whole.

💛 Watch the film: Seventy Times Seven on YouTube

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— Sashani