Christians in Cinema

Lifetime Television and Christian films. That’s a little like peanut butter and pickles. You don’t really think of the two as going together. But Fox Home Entertainment successfully struck a deal with Lifetime Televison to play Saving Sarah Cain not once but twice during the fall.

The latest offering from the production team of Michael Landon, Jr. (producer/director) and Brian Bird (producer/writer) is based on Beverly Lewis’ book “The Redemption of Sarah Cain.” The word “redemption” was changed to “saving” because it might appeal to a broader audience.

Get it because it’s a good movie. Available today (Jan 15th) on DVD!

The story is about a big-city girl (Sarah, a reporter for a Portland, OR, newspaper) who gains custody of her 5 nieces and nephews. They have been raised in an Amish community in Lancaster County, PA. Unexpectedly becoming a guardian for nieces and nephews is not a new story (”Raising Helen”). But when you add the factor of a culture clash, the potential for entertainment increases.

Sarah decides to bring her nieces and nephews to live with her in Portland, and that’s when the fun begins. The kids are thrust into modern culture and Sarah is thrust into parenthood. The kids were doing all right on their own before they met Sarah, so she doesn’t realize that they are having more problems than she thinks.

She’s wrapped up in trying to save her job, and chooses to start documenting life with 5 Amish children. That’s a big hit with her readers, who start seeing her as more personable. But the sad truth is it’s still all about Sarah. She’s still too wrapped up in her own needs and comfort to know what the children need.

As the film progresses, you realize the children are in many ways more mature than Sarah and that she’s the one who must experience transformation.

There are very funny moments in the film, and the young actors and actresses are all delightful in their roles. Veteran actor Elliott Gould plays Sarah’s boss at the newspaper, and Tess Harper is a lady from the Amish community who would have willingly taken the children herself.

I think Michael Landon excels at cinematography, and this film is no exception. There are some beautiful scenes when the story is in Pennsylvania. He and his cast and crew produced a visually pleasing, entertaining story that still gets the point across: It’s not all about you.

If there were any flaws in the film, it would be that sometimes the camera lingers too long on the luscious scenery, and at times there is too much music when silence under the dialogue would be more effective.

I could tell you there are lots of teachable moments, and there are some unexpected glimpses into Amish life, so you should buy it. But really, you should get it because it’s a good movie.