Civil War poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (Stephen Atherholt) finds his world turned upside down when his wife Fanny (Rachel Day Hughes) dies in a tragic accident. Falling into despair and depression, Henry’s world is further impacted when his son Charley (Jonathan Blair) enlists in the army against his wishes. With Henry struggling to find purpose in life and Charley risking his life on the battlefield, the family faces an uphill battle to find the peace they so desperately need in their lives.
‘I Heard the Bells’ from director Joshua Enck is based on the real-life story of poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. It tells the origin story of how Longfellow came to write the classic carol ‘I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day’ and explores the hurdles he faced in his life following the death of his wife. Longfellow’s spiral into depression takes place in the late 19th Century before mental health was discussed as openly as it is now. While Longfellow’s family can see their father falling apart, he isn’t able to find the tools to deal with his feelings and be present for his children.
The central performances from Stephen Atherholt and Jonathan Blair anchors the film. Atherholt brings gravitas to weighty material while Blair brings a youthful optimism that imbues the film with light during its darker moments. Together the actors are believable as family, as convincing in their scenes of conflict as they are in the moments when they come together as family.
If I were to level one criticism at the film, it’s that it feels slightly longer than it needs to be. Clocking in at almost 2 hours, the pace can feel glacial at times and editing out 20 minutes really wouldn’t have made a huge difference. Spending a little less time with Longfellow’s downward spiral and a little more time with him reconnecting with his family, may have benefited the film.
‘I Heard the Bells’ is something a bit different for the Great American Family audience. A period drama, it’s at times a very heavy watch but it circles back to the channel’s core themes of faith and family. At its heart the film is a classic tale of overcoming adversity and leaning on family during difficult times. Those who love historical tales will find much to enjoy but those who prefer the fluffy side of the Great American Christmas line-up may find this a little too weighty.
Cast: Stephen Atherholt, Rachel Day Hughes, Jonathan Blair, Zach Meeker Director: Joshua Enck Writers: Joshua Enck, Jeff Bender Certificate: Unrated Duration: 110 mins Released by: Great American Media Release date: 28th November 2024
‘I Heard the Bells’ airs on Great American Family as part of Great American Christmas 2024 on Thursday 28th November 2024 at 8/7c. There’s another chance to see it on Saturday 30th November at 8/7c. Find out more at https://www.greatamericanfamily.com/movie/i-heard-the-bells/
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