MIRACLES FROM HEAVEN

US, 2016, 109 minutes, Colour.
Jennifer Garner, Kylie Rogers, Martin Henderson, Queen Latifah, Eugenio Derbez, John Carroll Lynch.
Directed by Patricia Riggen.

It is said that after the success, commercially, of The Passion of the Christ, American faith films received a boost of confidence, moving to bigger budgets, campaigns for wider and mainstream distribution, both in the United States and beyond. Miracles from Heaven is one of these films.

These faith films divide opinion and comment. American secular reviews of Miracles from Heaven are quite damning, not ready to give much credit to such films, saying that they are too pious, too sentimental, too unreal, especially in this case as in the previous Heaven is for Real, the events, the healings and miracles, too difficult to swallow.

On the other hand, for instance on the Internet Movie Database, practically all of the comments are from the faith audience who have found this film not only a good entertainment but a reinforcement of faith and values.

It is based on a true story and a book by the mother of the family, Christy Beam. She and her husband, Kevin, and their three daughters are a typical middle American family, he a vet who works some of the land, she a mother, and the family are members of the local evangelical church, led by very genial pastor, John Carroll Lynch. Clearly, this is a wholesome story in its perspective and treatment.

When the middle daughter experiences stomach and throat trouble, is in continual pain, and the diagnoses assert that there is nothing basically wrong with her, Christy becomes very angry with the doctors and demands further tests, which leads to the discovery that the girl has severe intestinal problem, especially for any digestion of food. While the family prays, and the Christian community is supportive, there is a severe scene where two of the ladies of the parish accost Christy and say that either she and the family, or even the daughter, must have sinned in some way for the daughter to be so ill. Christy loses her sense of faith.

In a sense, this is a story about family, how they deal with in illness, the contact with a world specialist in Boston with an enormous waiting list and Christy, determined, takes her daughter to Boston and, providentially, gets an appointment. The doctor is in the vein of such medical characters as Patch Adams, a way with children, a way with adults, cheerful and joking even when the prognosis indicates terminal illness.

There is a miracle in this film, not as one might have anticipated, but a healing.

One of the interesting aspects of presenting miracles on screen is the response of different faith communities towards miracles. For more evangelical communities, this is an encounter with God, and intervention in people’s lives. Catholics need to remember that miracles are required for any progress on stages for beatification and canonisation and that at any one time around the world many Catholics are praying for here things for potentials saints and their recognition.

Some physical comments made during the film and the issue of spontaneous reconstruction. On the other hand, with the little girl saying that she had an encounter with God, this could be seen as the equivalent of a dream – and there is a great deal of thinking and writing on the effect of dreams on the human psyche and the human body.

Yes, the film was very American, is not ashamed of sentiment, is not ashamed of prayer and faith. The central couple is played by Jennifer Garner and Martin Henderson. And the very sympathetic doctor is played by Eugenio Derbez. Kylie Rogers gives a persuasive performance as the sick girl, trying to cope with her continued pain and hospitalisation, tests and treatment, bonding with her family, healed.

And, in the final credits, there are photos and video footage of all the family several years after the miraculous experience – the young daughter herself, large as life, on the screen as a testimony to her faith.

1. A faith film? Responses to faith films? The American response, too explicit faith testimony and stories? Witness?

2. The role of sentiment in these films, manipulation, American style – or not? The response to American sensibilities and feelings, stories and issues?

3. Audience welcome to faith films? Non-religious comment, putdowns, intolerance, lack of respect?

4. The true story, the link with other such stories as Heaven is for Real? A faith community? Illness, hospital, the role of doctors, cures or not, palliative care, prospect of death, possibilities for recovery?

5. Miracle as defined in the film, the achieving of the seemingly impossible? Physically? The faith context for healing, its possibility or not? Catholic audiences and expectations about miracles, their possibility, requirements for canonisation? Evangelical churches, the experience of God, and encounter and its consequences? The issue of spontaneous reconstruction?

6. The family, a pleasant family, Christa as a concerned mother, the three daughters and their ages, interactions, churchgoing mother? Kevin, the vet, work in the fields, relating well to his daughters? Ordinary people, ordinary lives? American style?

7. The pastor, the welcome to the church, the crowd, genial, his humorous talk, uplifting, the enthusiasm for the singing, and lively faith community?

8. The girls, their age, interactions, the little girl, aged 6 and treatment of her? The older daughter and responsibility? Anna and her illness?

9. The sickness, the meals, Anna vomiting, in pain, the rawness in her throat, crying out in the night? Going to the hospital, the various diagnoses, the fever, automatic reflux, the continued diagnoses and medications but no effect? The little girl being despondent, almost opting out of life?

10. Taking Anna to the hospital, Christa and her being angry, the reaction of the doctor, the further tests, the expert and the diagnoses, the doctor’s apology? The new test and intestinal difficulties, the explanation? No prospect of a cure? Relief?

11. Information about the doctor in Boston, the phone calls, no replies, the long waiting list, his patients and their deaths? Christa making the decision to go, accosting the receptionist, her plea? The effect on the receptionist? Going to the cafe, meeting the friendly waitress, her offer of the tour of Boston, going to the aquarium (and Anna not being able to go at home, the discussions with the boy who was her friend)? The appointment, time becoming available? The doctor, personable, funny, his ties etc, way of talking, his ability for handling children and putting them at ease? And with parents? The further tests, the different diagnoses, the trials, the prospects, the fact that Anna would die? The recommendation of the frequent visits and tests in Boston?

12. The issue of money, Kevin as a vet, setting up his business, taking up the loans, doubling his work? His love for his daughter, finding ways to pay for the trips in the hospital care?

13. Going to the church, prayer, Kevin as a man of faith, the two women and their accosting Christa, suggesting that there must be some sin involved, on hers of the family’s part, or even on Anna’s part? Christa’s angry reaction? Losing her faith? Going to visit the pastor, talking about her experience? Kevin trying to encourage her in faith and her desperate reactions?

14. Accepting the reality, Anna and her attitude, continually in pain, the family wanting to go to Boston, the man at the counter allowing them to get the ticket despite the credit card over charge? Surprising Anna and her joy, morale-boosting? The importance of the little girl in the next bed, her cancer, Anna giving her the necklace? The reaction of her father, not a faith person, asking Christa not to encourage false hopes in his daughter?

15. Back at home, Anna and her reserve, persuaded to go up the tree, climbing, falling, the long time for the rescue, the television, the firemen, the medical prognosis?

16. Taken to hospital, waking up, feeling better, physical, mental, her explanation of her meeting God and the experience? The change, going back to ordinary life? A way of looking at this kind of miracle, the reality of dreams, the effect of dreams, and Anna’s experience of
God as a dream equivalent?

17. The scene in the church, Christa giving her witness? The pastor and his encouragement? The response of the congregation? The women and the critique that she was seeking publicity? The television presence? The father of the little girl with cancer, his coming, his giving witness, Christa’s testimony?

18. The final credits and the video and photographs of the actual characters – and Anna still alive and healthy?