For more information about the film The Labyrinth
and an interview with producer Jason Smith The Labyrinth Interview
Ron Schmidt, SJ
AMISH GRACE premiere’s tonight; check out the reviews
AMISH GRACE, premieres tonight on the LMN (8ET/5PT). I just received this list of reviews for the Lifetime television movie with a note from the executive producer, Larry A. Thompson, expressing hope that “… tonight’s broadcast will inspire many and awaken them to the healing powers of faith and forgiveness.” This is a story for all seasons, but what a way to begin Holy Week and Passover. You have time to set your TiVo’s and DVR’s if you won’t be at home or record it so you can go back and savor it. -Sr Rose
Lifetime Movie Network
Selected Reviews
And News Items
March 28, 2010
Christian Science Monitor
Amish Grace
Staff
“This is a gentle, well-crafted, made-for-TV movie about a difficult subject done with dignity, insight, and yes, grace.”
Preview Online
by Phil Boatwright
“Riveting, emotionally stirring, a powerful television experience.”
“…a penetrating examination of the concept of true forgiveness.”
Click here: And on TV… Amish Grace
National Enquirer
Amish Grace
by Len Feldman
“…this is a masterfully acted, written and directed emotional powerhouse of a movie…”
Catholic Exchange
Amish Grace: A Time for Forgiveness
by Sister Rose Pacatte
“Amish Grace is a powerful television production that belies its simplicity. The performances are strong, unadorned, and credible. The filmmakers avoid explicit violence by suggesting it instead. They chose to make a movie about, and with, grace and they have succeeded. As I watched the film, I just let the story wash over me and I could not stop crying.”
Click here: Amish Grace: A Time for Forgiveness | Catholic Exchange
Also on Sister Rose’s weblog:
Click here: Amish Grace on LMN March 28 « Sister Rose’s My Movies Weblog
Huffington Post
Amish Grace is a Story of Grace Under Fire
By Jackie K. Cooper
“The overall theme of the film is one of forgiveness and love.” .” “It is a performance with range and shows Kimberly Williams-Paisley’s growth as an actress.” “Tammy Blanchard can convey an enormous range of emotions with just her body language.” “An inspiring movie and a totally believable one.”
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jackie-k-cooper/emamish-graceem-is-a-stor_b_507564.html?view=print
Entertainment Tonight
Amish Grace
by Mark Steines
“…an inspirational true story of forgiveness”
Catholic On-Line
By Leticia Valasquez
“Tammy Blanchard is passionate as Amy Roberts”…”Highly recommended for the whole family
Click here: Review of “Amish Grace” – Catholic Online
Variety
Amish Grace – TV Review
by Brian Lowry
“The most compelling reason to tune in is Blanchard, who — after CBS’ “Sybil” remake and “Judy Garland: Me and My Shadows” — conveys the pain of a woman who keenly realizes it’s not merely her own life that’s been devastated.”
“Onscreen depictions of the Amish have a way of feeling stilted, unless Harrison Ford happens to be in them. To their credit, the filmmakers seek to go beyond that, capturing in a more generic sense how religious faith can help people endure when confronted by such a horrible and capricious act.”
“…if thee like the occasional tearjerker, thou hast good reason to watch.”
Click here: Amish Grace Review – TV Show Reviews – Analysis Of Amish Grace The TV Series
Hollywood Reporter
Amish Grace – TV Review
By Randee Dawn,
“Bottom Line: Effective and heartfelt”
“To the credit of the screenplay, the dialogue works, relying less on Bible quotations than gently espoused faith.”
“The story is assisted by solid, convincing acting — including a moving turn from Emmy winner Blanchard as Amy Roberts. It’s almost impossible not to tear up when the Amish first approach her or when they turn up later at Charles’ otherwise sparsely attended funeral.”
“Amish Grace” is an effective, heartfelt take on walking the walk and talking the talk. By avoiding peachiness, it proves that one can live a religious ideal — even in the face of disbelief from an entire outside world.”
Click here: Amish Grace — TV Review
MovieGuide.com
Amish Grace: Coming to a Greater Understanding of God’s Grace
by Dr. Ted Baehr and Jeff Holder
“Kimberly Williams-Paisley as Ida gives a terrific performance”…”The story is well written and moves along quickly”…”Amish Grace is a gripping story that is profoundly touching and contains a message of grace that is sure to inspire.” “It will bring many to tears and many more to a deeper understanding of God’s amazing grace in Jesus Christ.”
Click here: ‘Amish Grace’ – Coming to a greater understanding of God’s grace
Lifetime Moms
by Nicole Smith
“It was harrowing, exhausting, and amazing to watch this story unfold…It will move you to understand how faith and forgiveness go hand in hand to help people move beyond the most difficult and heart wrenching experiences…It’s forever changed my views of how to have faith and how to forgive whenever I feel forgiveness isn’t an option.”
Click here: My Connection to “Amish Grace” the LMN Original Movie Airing March 28
Catholic Exchange
Forgiveness, Not Just An Amish Grace
by Patti Maguire Armstrong
“Amish Grace is a portrayal of how forgiveness can overcome tragedy. Emotions are shown as very real but something that can be guided by Christian teaching if one has the desire. It’s a movie both simple and complex in Bible teachings.”
Click here: Forgiveness, Not Just An Amish Grace | Catholic Exchange
World Magazine
Supernatural Reaction
by Megan Basham
“Blanchard’s performance as a shattered woman overcome by miraculous love is gripping.”
Click here: WORLD Magazine | Supernatural reaction | Megan Basham | Mar 26, 10
ChristianCinema.com
by Angela Walker
“Amish Grace is Amazing”
“Movies about tragedies have a challenge: to walk the fine line between over-dramatizing and sensationalizing an event, or under-dramatizing an event, denying the impact it had on the victims. The producers of ‘Amish Grace’ maintain a fine balance, never really straying to one side or the other in their portrayal of the events at Nickel Mines, Pennsylvania.” “In contrast to so many of today’s fast-paced thrillers and procedural shows, the story is allowed to unfold gracefully.”
“Kimberly Williams-Paisley and Matt Letscher, both familiar from television series, give finely-tuned performances in leading roles as Ida and Gideon, the parents of one of the dead girls.” “In this graceful retelling of the event that brought forgiveness to the forefront of world news, we’re reminded that although the words of the Lord’s Prayer sound simple, the actual accomplishment of them is not easy.”
Click here: Amish Grace review by Angela Walker
Parents Television Council
Best TV Show of the Week
by Ally Matteodo
Click here: Best Family TV Shows of the Week – Amish Grace on Lifetiem — 03-26-10
Additional Quotes
“Well-acted and moving. A story that drives home the incredible healing power of God’s forgiveness.” – Bob Hoose, Focus on the Family
“Tammy Blanchard…gave a wonderful and very believable performance. 5 stars for her!” Crystal Elwell – The Mungle Show
“Director Gregg Champion shows us individual Amish families struggling with their loss in often heartbreaking ways.”
“As we approach Easter, and consider the cost God paid to forgive us of our sins, ‘Amish Grace’ is a timely tale.”
“My hope is that ’Amish Grace’ will inspire more people to live their faith out loud…”
Christian Post – Marc Newman
“This movie shows a realistic response through characters who forgive even while also suffering incredible pain, anger and even guilt.”
“’Amish Grace’ serves as a great reminder that forgiveness can be a long, ongoing journey, but always one worth taking.”
Charisma Online – Leigh DeVore
The Patriot News
Amish Grace Movie Fictionalizes Nickel Mines Tragedy, Generates Debate
By Ivey Dejesus
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Amish Grace poor retelling of Lancaster County tragedy
by Rob Owen
Click here: ‘Amish Grace’ poor retelling of Lancaster County tragedy
Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10084/1045345-67.stm#ixzz0jDWXgLJM
Suite101.com
Amish Grace on Lifetime Movie Network
by Francine Brokaw
Click here: Amish Grace on Lifetime Movie Network: Based on a True Story
Lifetime Moms
Amish Grace Explores the Question: What Is Unforgivable?
by Lindsay Maines
Click here: LMN’s “Amish Grace” Explores the Question: What is Unforgivable? | Lifetime Moms
Movieguide
Behind the Scenes of AMISH GRACE: A Universal Story About Dealing with Anger and Grief By Jeff Holder, Managing Editor
Click here: Behind the Scenes of AMISH GRACE: A Universal Story About Dealing with Anger and Grief
New York Daily News
Amish Grace Gets To the Heart of Faith
Click here: Lifetime’s ‘Amish Grace’ gets to the heart of faith
New York Times
TV Movie on Amish School Shooting Draws Criticism
Click here: TV Movie on Amish School Shooting Draws Criticism – NYTimes.com
The Blade
Toledo, Ohio
Amish Grace Producer says controversy based on misinformation
by David Yonke
Click here: toledoblade.com — The Blade ~ Toledo Ohio
New York Post
Grace Under Fire
by Linda Stassi
Click here: Lifetime movie ‘Amish Grace’ comes under fire for its fictional treatment – NYPOST.com
New York Post
Grace Notes: Amish Have Mercy on School Shooter
by Paige Albiniak
Click here: ‘Grace’ notes – NYPOST.com
USA Today
Click here: Movie on Amish school shooting draws criticism – USATODAY.com
Yorkdispatch.com
Local Amish express concern over Lifetime’s ‘Grace’ (video)
by Peter Mergenthaler
Click here: Local Amish express concern over Lifetime’s ‘Grace’ (video) – York Dispatch
Tidings
Transforming Forgiveness
by Sister Rose
Click here: Transforming forgiveness: ‘Amish Grace’ | The-Tidings.com
ChristianCinema.com
Producer Larry Thompson Delivers Amish Grace
Click here: Producer Larry Thompson Delivers “Amish Grace”
KansasCity.com
By Aaron Barnhart
The Kansas City Star
River View Observer
National Catholic Register
Amish Grace: Forgiving our enemies
by Steven D. Greydanus
Click here: Amish Grace: Forgiving Our Enemies | Blogs | NCRegister.com
Crosswalk.com
Actress Kimberly Williams-Paisley Finds Inspiration in Amish Grace
Kelley Mathews
Click here: Actress Kimberly Williams-Paisley Finds Inspiration in Amish Grace,
CT Entertainment
A Story of Grace, Forgiveness and . . . Doubt?
by Laura Leonard
Click here: Christianity Today Entertainment Blog: A Story of Grace, Forgiveness and . . . Doubt?
National Catholic Reporter
Without Forgiveness: There’s no room left for love
by Sister Rose Pacatte
Click here: Without forgiveness, there’s no room left for love | National Catholic Reporter
The Street – Jim Cramer
Kimberly Williams-Paisley Stars In Lifetime Movie Network’s Original Movie Amish Grace
Beliefnet
Click here: Interview: Karley Scott Collins of ‘Amish Grace’ – Movie Mom
Guideposts
Amish Grace – Video Review
Click here: Amish Grace | Guideposts
Tidings Online
Transforming Forgiveness
Sister Rose
Click here: Transforming forgiveness: ‘Amish Grace’ | The-Tidings.com
Amish Grace on LMN March 28
Kimberly Williams-Paisley in “Amish Grace”
Amish Grace: A Time for Forgiveness
Television movie review by Sr. Rose Pacatte, FSP
On Palm Sunday, March 28, the Lifetime Movie Network will premiere a made-for-television film about the October 2, 2006 shootings of ten Amish schoolgirls in Nickel Mines, PA: “Amish Grace”. Five of the girls, aged 6-13, died at the hand of an “English” milkman, that is, non-Amish, known to all the children. Charles Carl Roberts, 32, took his own life as state troopers prepared to storm the school. Then, in the immediate aftermath of such tragedy, the Amish parents and community forgave Roberts, astounding the media and people around the world who watched the story unfold on their televisions.
The film respects the facts of the event, but takes some artistic license in order to explore the Amish belief in unconditional forgiveness as well as their practice of shunning, which seems to contradict the act of forgiving. When the Amish community extends forgiveness to Roberts and then visits his wife Amy (Tammy Blanchard) to console her and her children for their loss, Amy is astounded. But one Amish mother, Ida Graber (Kimberly Williams-Paisley), tells her husband, Gideon (Matt Letscher) that she cannot forgive the man who murdered her daughter, Mary Beth.
Ida accuses Gideon of making Mary Beth’s life and death cheap by his “easy forgiveness.” He replies by telling her that the Lord does not ask them to follow an easy path: “… faith when everything is the way you want it is not true faith. It is only when our lives fall apart that we have the chance to make our faith real….”
This fictionalized account of those events takes its name from the 2007 non-fiction book “Amish Grace: How Forgiveness Transcended Tragedy”, by three Amish scholars, Donald B. Kraybill, Steven M. Nolt, and David L. Weaver-Zercher. Executive producer Larry A. Thompson said in an interview that even before he obtained rights for the book Kraybill had explained that the authors would not be able to consult on the film. This was due to their close relationship to and respect for the Amish community that lives “plain” and does not seek notoriety nor approve of film and photography.
Thompson, a television and film professional, is a life-long Catholic and member of St. Paul the Apostle Parish in Los Angeles. He explained that his reasons for making the film emerged from his reflection on the words of Jesus in the Our Father. “When I heard about what happened to these Amish children, I recalled that I have prayed these words all my life, ‘Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us’. I don’t think I really understood what they meant until I heard of this astonishing and powerful story of how the Amish people forgave. Their actions made me realize what God has really asked us to do as Christians. I talk the talk; these people walk the talk.”
Two documentaries made by Catholic filmmakers take the events at Nickel Mines as their point of departure to explore forgiveness. The Big Question: A Film about Forgiveness (2009), directed by Vince DiPersio, was produced by Paulist Productions (www.BigQuestionTheMovie.com) and The Power of Forgiveness (2008) by Martin Doblmeier, Journey Films (www.JourneyFilms.com). Both films look at forgiveness from various religious, spiritual, and philosophical perspectives and are available from Amazon.com.
“Amish Grace” is a powerful television production that belies its simplicity. The performances are strong, unadorned, and credible. The filmmakers avoid explicit violence by suggesting it instead. They chose to make a movie about and with grace and they have succeeded. As I watched the film, I just let the story wash over me and I could not stop crying.
“Amish Grace” airs on Palm Sunday, March 28, at 8ET/5PT on LMN. Check local listings for reruns during April and May.
Sister Rose's My Movies Weblog
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