MIRACLES FROM HEAVEN
Director: Patricia Riggen
Cert: 12A. 109 mins
This is an incredibly moving film, about God’s love in the face of suffering.
Christy Beam (Jennifer Garner) and her husband Kevin (Martin Henderson) seem to have a good, comfortable life, with three daughters and many animals (he’s a vet). However, when their daughter Anna (Kylie Rogers) suddenly develops a rare disease and money problems begin to escalate, Christy greatly struggles with her faith, but wields a fierce love as she fights for her daughter, who has a simple, trusting faith despite it all.
From there, the family embarks on a heart-wrenching journey to look after Anna and get her the care she needs. They try to love and support each other, aided by the likes of witty Pastor Scott (John Carroll Lynch), sassy waitress Angela (Queen Latifah), and playful Dr Nurko (Eugenio Derbez). There’s a lot of warmth to the film.
Hope shines through
The direction, acting and cinematography are all excellent. The film is full of sunlight, contrasting with the darkness of what the characters are going through, perhaps representing the idea that hope can shine through even in the darkest times.
Theological ideas are presented a little vaguely. On one level, it seems like a missed opportunity to show the characters trusting in the truth of God’s promises, and to present the gospel more clearly.
As both fully God and fully man, Jesus empathised fully with our sufferings and died on the cross to forgive our sins. And by rising again he triumphed over sin and death. So believers can know God’s love in the present, whatever the circumstances, as well as looking forward to the new heavens and the new earth, where ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes’ (Revelation 21.4).
Nevertheless, the film does make some good points, such as showing that miracles are everywhere – even in difficult situations, there are many reminders of God’s love all around us.
Miracles from Heaven is perhaps best considered not as a piece of theology, but as a terrifically sympathetic film, (c.f. Romans 12.15). It shows that, while we may not have answers, love can make some sense of things.
For such a powerful film, there are several scenes of emotional distress and of medical procedures.
