Have faith that ‘Sound of Hope’ will touch hearts
Describing a feature film as being faith based comes with a double-edged sword. The mere mention of the production being based on religious faith is enough to attract the masses.
The downside is that it often means preaching to the choir (both metaphorically and literally). No matter the basis, films in this genre tend to deal with issues that should be important to believers and non-believers.
The faith-based “Sound of Hope: The Story of Possum Trot” tackles an issue that should be of vital concern to anyone with a beating heart. The production is based on the true story of how the very small Texas community of Possum Trot made it their mission to adopt the most unadoptable children in the community.
How they deal with the challenges is connected to their faith, but it is the humanitarian efforts in our own backyard that is the driving force of their story and the film. Director Joshua Weigel succeeds in making this a movie that goes far beyond the pulpit by showing those who stepped up were just ordinary people moved to do extraordinary things.
First Lady Donna Martin (Nika King) is facing a personal crisis. She is living with the sorrow of her mother passing after asking her to give her more grandchildren. It is when her will and faith are being tested to the maximum that she comes up with a solution – adoption.
Once she convinces her husband – Reverend W.C. Martin (Demetrius Grosse) – to accept the idea, the pair begin the process. As they deal with state official Susan Ramsey (Elizabeth Mitchell) regarding the adoptions, the couple’s plans change.
The Reverend challenges the small number of members in his church to also consider adoption. He convinces them that not only is it a plan from Heaven but is just something they should do out of pure goodness. In the end, the group adopts 77 children.
At the same time, the Martins not only ask for more children, but they demand the youngsters who have been in and out of foster homes. They want those considered lost causes by the state.
Their big test is Terri (Diaana Babnicova), a teen so broken she is acting like a cat. The Martins must not fail at helping the teen because the entire community is watching to see whether they can succeed or not.
It is the work of King and Grosse that gives “Sound of Hope” its solid core. They aren’t painted in a saintly watercolor because of their connection to the church. Weigel shows them as real people who feel like they can make a difference in the world. They don’t face the adoptions with a wide-eyed optimism but with an inner strength that tells them children are a gift.
Much of the film takes place in the small Possum Trot church but the faith element is an accent to a broader deeply moving story. Even knowing the adoptions are an act of love, there is no hiding the emotional, financial and spiritual toll such an experience can have.
King presents the face of hope. There are times when she fails but King always gets across that at the heart of the performance is a pure sense of compassion. Her failings shown on screen only make her accomplishments that much more outstanding.
The acting is strong, but it is the story that gives the film its power. When this film is said to be based on a true story, that is definitely the case. And it is a true and remarkably moving case.
The name of the film is a little odd. The “Sound of Hope” partly echoes the Angel Studios release last year of “Sound of Freedom.” If this is an effort to connect the dots, it is a weak one. Then there is “Possum Trot,” a title that sounds like a light comedy. There are a few reasons to smile in “Possum Trot,” but this is not a comedy.
Don’t let the name stop you as “Sound of Hope: The Story of Possum Trot” – set to open in theaters starting July 4 – is a story that embraces its faith-based foundation but goes far beyond the confines of that genre.
Movie review
Sound of Hope: The Story of Possum Trot
Grade: B+
Cast: Nina King, Demetrius Grosse, Elizabeth Mitchell, Diaana Babnicova.
Director: Joshua Weigel
Rated: PG-13 for language, intense situations
Running time: 135 minutes.
Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KGET 17.
