John Finch was only eleven years old when his father committed suicide. But it wasn't until he was a father of three girls that he began to realize that the loss of his father had such an impact on him. His relationship with his wife and daughters was strained when he knew that healing would have to begin with forgiving both himself and his father for choosing to leave in order to become the dad his children needed him to be.
I first met John on Facebook when he was making his short film, The Father Effect. Over the years, I have followed his posts and endeavors to make a feature-length film, and now the book. The iterviews he has shared, along with his own story, have been a compelling revelation of just how important a father is in a child's life. I had a close relationship with my own dad until after the death of my mom when I was in my twenties. we were beginning to heal our rift when he was killed in a car wreck. But, my children lost their dad through divorce when they were pre-schoolers & he stayed away from them physically & emotionally. I tried to be both parents, but, I simply could not be their dad.
The Father Effect is an eye-opening account of the just how important it is to find healing if you did not have a father in your life...to forgive and to lean on our perfect Father for the wholeness you need. If you are a father, try to mend the rift in the relationship with your child. John shares his own journey with an honesty that is insightful and hopeful. Stories shared by men and women who have experienced hurt from their fathers, as well as words of wisdom from professionals, give this book a balanced approach that speaks to people with words of hope. I highly recommend this book to everyone no matter what your relationship with your father. And, if you are a dad...this is a must-read! Everyone should know the importance and value of a father in the life of his child.
Hero: Joe Finn (Burgess Jenkins) was a local legend in the world of baseball, but a miserable
failure as a husband, father, and friend. Now, seven years after leaving
home, he returns just in time to say goodbye to his dying wife (Ashlee Payne) and
hello to a son (Justin Miles) and a community who consider him as good as dead. Intent on making his life right, he turns to the only thing he knows -- baseball. But Little League is all but unrecognizable
in Miller's Gap, and parental involvement is at an all-time low. Even
as his actions begin to warm the hearts of some, others in the community
threaten to get rid of Joe's team for good. Can Joe win back his son
and revitalize a dying game, or is he seven years too late to redeem the
mess of his own making? Hero is directed by Manny Edwards, who also co-wrote with John Fornof. The stars are Burgess Jenkins, Justin Miles, R. Keith Harris, Gregory Alan Williams,
Mark Joy, Ashlee Payne, Fred Griffith, Jim McKeny, Andrea Powell, and
Nicholas Edwards as "Sammy" Also starry Blaine Goodwin, Sam Dubin, Ty
Myatt, Kenny Hinkle, and Walker Anthony. George D. Escobar, Burgess Jenkins, and Michael Snyder are the producers.
Official Selection - Christian Worldview Film Festival Official Selection - Gideon Media Arts Conference and Film Festival
My Review: I have been hearing about this film since it was first being made, so I have kept up with the progress from the beginning. So, although I expected to like it, I truly did not expect to get drawn into the story as quickly as I did. I always watch a film a minimum of twice because my attention wanders; I consider the first viewing to just give me a general idea of the story before I really watch it. Within 5 minutes, I was sitting down, fully focused on the story being told.
This is a story of hope, forgiveness, reconciliation, and redemption. I noticed a couple of little glitches, but nothing overly distracting. I enjoyed the acting, the cinematography, the sound (too often I have to go back to try to understand what was said in other films), and that there was closed captioning. At only 94 minutes, it's not too long, and it is great for a Family Film Night. Some of the material may be harder for kids younger than 10 to understand, but they will probably like the baseball scenes. I highly recommend this dvd.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this DVD from EDIFY MEDIA as part of
the movie's promotion. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC
16 CFR, Part 255 'Guides concerning the use of endorsements and
testimonials in advertising. I was not asked to write a positive review
and all opinions expressed are entirely my own.
GIVEAWAY: Edify Media has another copy of HERO to give away!! Just leave a comment on the blog to be entered. Deadline to Enter is Sept. 30 at Noon (CDT)Reminder: I do monitor due to Spammers. Be patient, and contact me only if your comment does not appear with 24 hours. Thanks!
