Director Tony Kaye reflects on the legacy of American History X and its potential future while speaking with PEOPLE at the 2025 Tribeca Festival

"We haven't figured out tolerance and love, and all the racism and terrible things that go on in the world," he says of the 1988 hit movie

Kaye is currently promoting his upcoming flick The Trainer

People still have plenty to learn from American History X.

Director Tony Kaye, 72, reflects on the legacy of his 1998 hit movie and its potential future while speaking with PEOPLE at the United States premiere of his latest flick, The Trainer, at the 2025 Tribeca Festival at SVA Theatre in New York City on Saturday, June 7.

"It is sad that it's become as important as it's become, which is largely to do with the fact that as a civilization, we haven't figured out tolerance and love, and all the racism and terrible things that go on in the world," Kaye says of American History X's continuing legacy.

The movie stars Edward Norton and Edward Furlong as two brothers in Los Angeles who have ties to a violent white supremacist gang. When one brother is rehabilitated after his experience in prison, he sets out to prevent his brother from being further indoctrinated. The movie earned Norton an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor.