I was greatly surprised by the wonderful script. It is a movie which has a very strong Christian theme and which includes excellent lessons about life, especially in our society which is often very far away from the basics.
PROS
+ Great example how to constantly ask yourself the simple question 'What would IESOUS do in that situation?'
+ Great example how a good workfield, such as being a finishing carpenter, can strongly contribute to the stability of a youth. Nowadays we often have the focus on extensive education and office-career, which is in this movie shown to be responsible for the near-break-up of the couple's marriage and the breakdown of their son (aside from not being believers). His decision to break out from that circle and to pursue honest and challenging work, changes at the end the course of that whole family and brings a whole new unity.
+ The movie is also a great example of how important older people are in discipling younger people in faith and practical work, topics which went hand-in-hand already in IESOUS' and Paul's time, who both worked hard and discipled in their free time other people. If our society does not have such informal teachers as shown in this movie or e.g. In 'The Secrets of Jonathan Sperry', then we have a real problem.
+ This movie also displays a bad example of a pastor, by not knowing the attendance of his flock and not having authority over them while wearing a collar (which is probably not baptist-style). But his example of practical forgiveness is very great.
CONS
- Speaking about Baptists, it is surprising that we do not see any baptism in this movie, which would have been a beautiful conclusion of it. I have to say that I find it overall shocking how few North American Christian movies actually show a salvation and / or a baptism. Out of 90 movies reviewed to date, I remember only 2 including a baptism ('The Printing' and 'Bamboo in Winter').
- If Paul would have seen this movie including a very angry father and mother, he would have probably objected that the HOLY SPIRIT was absent from the story, because apart from job changes, a new family unity and some hugs we do not find any fulfillment of the Great Commission, to both make disciples and to baptize them. Not one of the family members found their salvation in this movie - they only became better people.
- Some of the dialogues had been hard to understand due to dialect spoken and / or unclear recording.
- Ernest speaks to his dead wife. This is not necessarily a problem because he clearly states that he hears her voice only from past memories, but to include such a scene and to repeat it even twice was probably not wise in a Christian movie.
- The scene with the chisel is hardly realistic. Even if someone were to flip it and it should be very sharp, there would not be nearly enough energy to penetrate trousers and cut deep into flesh at a distance of approx. Half a meter.
