August 2009 – One’s attempt to find a sense of purpose and meaning in life seems to be the running theme in several recently released and upcoming films. Two of the films take a serious approach to the matter while the others approach it in a light-hearted way. Regardless, all the movies reveal the human desire to belong, and their messages – some good and some bad – could prompt valuable teaching moments for the family. 

Please note that the first three movies reviewed below cite questionable uses of God’s name.

The River Within
The River Within, Zac Heath’s independent feature film debut as writer and director, was shot along the Spring River in northeast Arkansas for less than $40,000, and it went from script to screen in less than six months – a budget and schedule almost unheard of in Hollywood. 

The movie is about an aspiring attorney named Jason who returns to his childhood home to prepare for his upcoming bar exam. He goes there for a quiet place to study but eventually realizes God has him there for other reasons. Through old friends, a pushy pastor and a part-time job as a youth minister, Jason wrestles with the question that once haunted his father: “What am I doing here?”

The River Within is a beautiful film about passion, plans and purpose. It’s a reminder of how God has made you who are you for a reason, and, as a result you should surrender your talents and dreams for His glory. This is displayed in Jason’s life as he comes alive while working with youth and gaining an understanding of the role of the church.

“The film is based loosely on many of my own experiences,” Heath told AFA Journal. “It was my year and a half in youth ministry that I drew heavily upon in creating this movie.”

It didn’t take long for Heath to merge his calling to ministry with his strong passion for using drama to communicate a message. Thus, he began preparing himself to be a filmmaker.

“This journey led me to work as an actor in both theater and film, to attend seminary and eventually to move to Los Angeles where I worked as a crew member on seven feature films over the course of two years before sitting down to write The River Within,” he explained.

This movie was not rated because of the cost involved, but Heath believes it’s appropriate for a PG audience. It’s free of profanity, violence and sex. Men are seen without their shirts, and the movie does deal with an unplanned pregnancy and other tough issues such as self-injury. There are a few inappropriate comments, including two light comical references to homosexuality. God’s name is used in what could be interpreted as an expletive but, considering the context, is more like a plea of desperation. 

The film will have a limited theatrical release beginning the week of September 11. Beginning in October, the film will be available through Cloud Ten Pictures for church screenings. To inquire about hosting a church screening, send an e-mail to [email protected]. Following the theatrical and church showings, the film will be available on DVD in late 2009 or early 2010.

Plus, keep an eye out for another film from Heath. He is presently writing the script for a movie that should be ready for production in just over a year from now.

“As with The River Within, my next film is inspired from my walk with God,” he said. “As with any movie I’m blessed to do, I hope that it will serve to entertain, educated and inspire those who watch it.” 

The Lost and Found Family
Put five foster children, two foster parents and one widow under the same dilapidated roof and you get The Lost and Found Family – coming to DVD September 15 from Provident Films and Sony Pictures Home Entertainment. 

It’s a mismatched group of people who come together in the unlikeliest of ways. Ester, a wealthy socialite living large in Chicago, is left with nothing but an unknown piece of rental property in small-town Georgia after her husband suddenly dies before resolving a sour business deal. With only the clothes on her back and a few bags of belongings, Ester has no choice but to move to Georgia with the intention of selling the property as the means for her survival. 

But when Ester arrives feeling like an orphan herself, her grieving heart is quickly drawn to the hurting foster children living in her rental house. She finds a new purpose in life and decides to keep the house for the foster family. But unfortunately there is already a buyer, so Ester must do all she can to stop the sale and keep her new family together. 

The Lost and Found Family is a compassionate depiction of selflessness and love. It shows the importance of loving the unlovable and taking care of widows and orphans, as instructed in Scripture. The theme is also analogous with the gift of salvation. 

The film is rated PG. Due to the context of troubled youth, it does contain drug use and related references, bad manners, disrespect to authority, disunity in the home, name-calling, a health emergency, immodesty, death and what sounds like several uses of God’s name in vain although it’s not blatant.

The Lost and Found Family is a real look into lives of the lonely and broken.

Bringing Up Bobby
It’s hard to find words to describe Bringing Up Bobby, a new film on DVD from brothers Nick and Chris Staron, the same guys who wrote and directed Between the Walls. 

Both films are eerily odd, yet totally different. Moving away from the serious tone of Between the Walls, Bringing Up Bobby has a “Napoleon Dynamite” feel to it. It’s intended to be a Christian comedy of identity about four siblings who are raised by the eldest brother – an awkward goober.

The sister is a materialistic shop-a-holic, the middle brother a drug-using drifter, and the youngest a confused teenage Goth who is trying to find out who he really is. 

The film is a fun, quirky and cheesy way to present the important message of what it means to be identified with Christ. Bringing Up Bobby culminates with the following point: “Life is not about being happy. But Jesus gives us the chance to stop living like hell is our fate.”

With a bold and provocative premise combined with goofy humor, Bringing Up Bobby will likely appeal to the right crowd that appreciates such content. The film has a nice moral message. However, the Christian content often feels canned and forced, and the theological message is shallow. It focuses on commitment and deeds without mentioning repentance and the beauty of Christ.

The film is free from profanity but does contain a few instances where it sounds as if God’s name is being used in vain. But it’s hard to be sure since the dialogue is not articulated at these points. 

There is some deceit in the film as well as immodesty due to guys wearing saggy pants that show their lower back and upper rear. One character continuously rescues his drunken mother from bars before being taken away by social services. 

Bringing Up Bobby is not rated.

Labou
Three curious children, an old pirate ship and the Louisiana bayou create a wild adventure that comes to life in Labou, now available on DVD.

Gavin, Emily and “Toddster” decide to look for the ghost of Captain LeRouge and his lost treasure in the haunted swamps of Louisiana. During their search, they meet a magical swamp creature named Labou who helps them fight off the ridiculous oil tycoons that are trying to turn the swamps into an oil refinery. Their quest for the hidden treasure suddenly takes on a whole new meaning as they try to save the bayou from destruction. Through their efforts, they discover a treasure of much greater value than pirate’s gold. 

Labou has the potential to be a fun family movie, but parts of it are so corny and overacted, it’s uncomfortable to watch. Labou is cute, and the ending is sweet. But the storyline – although it’s imaginative – never even comes close to feeling realistic. A ghost plays a major role in the film, which could be problematic for many parents. The movie also includes multiple uses of words such as “losers,” “idiot,” “jerk,” “pansies,” “wuss,” “dang,” etc. The audio of one profanity, which is still noted in the subtitles, has been dubbed over with a less offensive word. 

While the film has a positive message about friendship along with positive implications about good parental relationships, the children have no way of informing their parents of their whereabouts and choose adventure over responsibility. There are also some unexplained themes about positive thoughts producing positive results and how believing isn’t always seeing, therefore one should keep an open mind. New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin also appears in the film.

Labou is rated G, but overall it disappoints