I STILL BELIEVE
US, 2020, 116 minutes, Colour.
KJ. Apa, Britt Robertson, Nathan Parsons, Gary Sinise, Shania Twain, Melissa Roxburgh, Abigail Cowen.
Directed by The Erwin Brothers.
This is the fifth film made by the Erwin Brothers, who have become specialists in faith-based films. I Still Believe is based on the life and career of religious singer, Jeremy Camp. He is played by television star, K.J.Apa.
The other brothers who made faith-based films are the Kendrick Brothers. It is interesting to make comparisons. The Kendricks are far more explicitly religious than the Erwin is. However, the Erwins introduce religious music, Jeremy Camp’s leaving Indiana for California, encountering a composer-singer, becoming involved with a young woman who turns him down, but then lets him know that she is suffering from terminal cancer and he returns to California for her.
The film shows his career, his reaching out to audiences, his success. And, in the middle of the success and illness, the couple marry. However, her illness goes to the worst – and there is a scene of Jeremy camp praying in the chapel. But, with her death, he loses his faith in God and rails against God. But, he experiences something of a conversion and rights a song which becomes his theme song, I Still Believe.
The Erwin Brothers, while making faith-based films, are not Church-based faith-films, rather their stories and characters and music reaching out to a wider public to interest them in God and faith dimensions. They had a similar success in 2012 with Mercy Me’s song, I Can Only Imagine.
1. Title? A faith-based film? The career of Jeremy Camp? The popularity of his song?
2. A true story, the background of Jeremy Camp, his music, compositions, concerts, success? His relationship with Melissa? Meeting her, falling in love, wooing her, her illness, his support, the hope for a miracle, the wedding, her death?
3. Jeremy and his background, in Indiana, love for his parents, his father and ministry, the two boys, Josh and his illness and excitement? Leaving home, the gift of the guitar from his father?
4. Settling into college, the encounter with Jean- Luc, friendship, discussions, helping with the performance and instruments? Seeing Melissa, talking with her? His compositions, his playing, building up success, performance, his manner in performance, communicating with the audience?
5. The religious background to the film, the God-language, more secular behaviour, no church, the brief scene of the hospital chapel, Jeremy’s reference to Jesus healing the woman with the haemorrhage, the more emphasis on the woman’s faith?
6. Melissa, her family, friendship, her collapse, her illness, the diagnoses, the doctor’s opinion, the far-reaching cancer?
7. Jeremy, his prayer campaign, at the concerts, singling out Melissa, her standing, people standing, outstretched arms in prayer?
8. The buildup to the surgery, Jeremy in the Chapel, the discussions with Melissa’s sister, Heather? The result of the operation? Hysterectomy, Melissa not able to have children?
9. The cancer disappearing, the joy of the wedding, outdoors, his father presiding?
10. The return of the cancer, the effect on Melissa, the family, on Jeremy, the discussions with the doctor?
11. Melissa, her death, the funeral – and nothing religious seen there?
12. Jeremy, questions about God, talks with his father and his father’s life, the son with his problems, lack of ministry? His acceptance? Saying that suffering refines faith?
13. The concert, Adrienne coming to talk with him, her own story? The later married, having the family? Telling Melissa’s story over the years?
14. Filming the actual Jeremy, with the family, the information about the success of his songs, his career?
