Miracles From Heaven is a film that forces you to make a choice.
It's based on the true story of Annabel Beam, who suffered from a chronic intestinal disorder. Until she fell 30 feet down a hallowed-out tree, headfirst.
She not only was lifted out of the tree with no significant damage, but after the fall, she no longer had the disease.
Annabel's recovery happened in December of 2011. She's been symptom free ever since.
The film is based on her mom's (Christy) book of the same name.
It stars Kylie Rogers as Annabel and Jennifer Garner as Christy.
Before I saw the film, I had a bias which needed to be addressed. Garner tends to play emotions one-dimensionally full-tilt. But in the case of Miracles from Heaven, she works that to her advantage. In fact, her performance is razor sharp. We see Christy as a caring mom who is anguished over the pain her daughter is enduring.
So Garner's pain becomes ours.
As you might expect, the relationship between Christy and her husband, Kevin (played by Martin Henderson) becomes strained almost to the snapping-point. Henderson does a fine job portraying a person who remains resolute in his faith, despite any outward reason to keep it.
But the true gem of the film is found in Kylie Rogers who gives a solid performance as Annabel. Her upbeat nature shines through. But so does her struggle with physical pain. During one of her frequent hospital visits, Annabel tells her mom: "I want to die so I can go to heaven..."
Far from seeming melodramatic, this moment is captured beautifully.
Although there is a post-accident, post-recovery scene, where Christy addresses her church family, she offers no in-your-face answer for her daughter's healing.
Rather, you are left to ponder the source of Annabel's good fortune.
It is plain that the Beam family believes Annabel's recovery is a miracle from God. But the viewer isn't hit over the head with that conclusion.
Was Annabel's recovery miraculous? Or was her nervous system physically re-set when she fell 30 feet head-first down a hallowed tree?
The film wisely leaves the decision up to you.
Other noteworthy performances: Queen Latifah does a fine job as Angela (a waitress who befriends the Beams) as does Eugenio Derbez as Dr. Nurko (the chief physician who cared from Annabell at Boston Children's Hospital).
Here's the trailer.
Here's an interview with Christy & Annabel Beam.
Photo credit: www.forbes.com
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