AMISH GRACE

AMISH GRACE - 2010

RATED - PG for mature themes. Closer to G. The violence at the center of the film is only implied.  Nothing is shown.

RATINGS -  5 Amazon (5/5),  211 Netflix (4.2/5), 143 IMDB (7.1/10).

STARRING - Kimberly Williams-Paisley (Father of the Bride 1 & 2)

AWARDS - Highest rated original movie shown on Lifetime.

THEMES - Relationships, spirituality, justice.

STORY - Based on the true story of the murder of five innocent Amish school girls in 2006 in Lancaster County Pennsylvania. The main family in the story is fictional, however. Great acting and screenplay.  Emotional without being manipulative. Violent without showing any violence. Inspirational without being preachy. I have always been critical of faith-based films that are basically 'sermons disguised as films'. Faith-based films should be great stories where the message is an integral part of the story. This is one of those. At the heart of the story is a horrific crime. A lone gunman backs his pickup to a one room Amish school, walks in and proceeds to kill five young Amish girls and wound five others.  What happens after that is almost as unbelievable. Three Amish men, including the father of one of the victims, visit the home of the killer to offer forgiveness and help to the gunman's widow. But not everyone finds it easy to forgive.  Ida Graber (Paisley) isn't buying it. 'I will not betray my daughter by forgiving her killer'.  What follows is for the most part the struggle between two women, both mothers & wives, struggling with forgiveness and their husbands from two totally different perspectives. While we may all have a tendency to see the Amish as stoic and and almost mechanical or robotic in their faith, this is not at all what comes thru in the film. While raising (but not answering) some inconsistencies in their practices, we see them as real humans struggling to deal with this horrific crime against their community. One of the most powerful scenes is at the funeral for the gunman. This is a movie that will haunt you and stick with you as you consider (at least I did) how to live out a live of forgiving with even just the most mundane grievances. What could this mean for communities, our nation and our world if forgiveness were truly practiced.  I highly recommend this film. Lu G. for Lu's Reviews. 09/18.2010.

LINKS - IMDB, NETFLIX, AMAZON,  The Power of Forgiveness

FRIENDLY PERSUASION

FRIENDLY PERSUASION - 1956

RATED - NR but likely PG for some adult themes. VERY family friendly. Some minor war violence.

RATINGS - 63 Amazon (5/5), 1,594 IMBD (7.5/10)

STARRING - Gary Cooper & Dorothy McGuire

AWARDS - 6 Academy Award nominations including Best Picture & Best Music. Other awards and nominations.

THEMES - The Civil War, pacifism, forgiveness, Quakers, family.

STORY - FRIENDLY PERSUASION (1956-NR) was nominated for 6 Academy Awards including Best Picture. Starring Gary Cooper and Dorothy McGuire as Jess & Eliza Birdwell, Quakers living in Southern Indiana during the Civil War. Pacifists according to their Quaker beliefs, they have avoided participating in the Civil War but now the war is infringing on their homes and they must decide whether or not to defend themselves. The tension among the family heightens when their son (played by Anthony Perkins in the role that would make him a star) decides he must take up arms to defend their community. While the film is about a serious, philosophical subject, it is filled with humor and romance. This film is the definition of FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT. The music is great and the characters are portrayed as very human, not too harshly or too lightly. Gary Cooper is great as the straight-laced Quaker father who has a streak of 'worldliness' that keeps coming out-especially on the way to the meeting house (church) when a fellow neighbor Methodist causes a case of 'road rage' between their horse and buggies. Dorothy McGuire is the mother who is also the minister of their Quaker meeting house and takes pacifism as well as straight living very seriously. You almost believe she's as good as she appears until one of the Confederate soldiers attempts to take her pet goose. A long time classic you will be entertained and challenged to think watching this film. Lu G. for Lu's Reviews. 11/15/2007

LINKS - AMAZON, IMBD