Recently, my daughter and her friend saw one of the latest Hollywood releases. As they walked out of the theater, Bob said, “That made my heart hurt.” It wasn’t supposed to be a sad movie. It was just so lacking in any kind of moral fiber that it was just … sad. In that simple sentence Bob wrapped up the feelings of so many of us.
There seems to be a competition going on between filmmakers to see who can make the most violent, pointless movies with characters who HAVE no character. Gone are the days of sitting in darkened theaters rooting for heroes who stood for goodness and justice. We are left with depictions of horribly depraved souls who eschew anything that resembles morality.
Well, if you’re as tired of this as I am and yearn for stories of people with faith and courage, then I have just the movie for you. I was blessed to be able to preview the film: “Alone Yet Not Alone.” This movie tells the story of Barbara and Regina Leininger and is based on the novel by the same name (written by their descendent, Tracy Leininger Craven).
The Leininger family immigrated to Pennsylvania from Germany in the 1700’s. The Indian Wars began soon after and the family’s daughters, Barbara and Regina, were kidnapped by the Indians when they were only ten and twelve. This movie tells their dramatic story.
Coming from a devoutly Christian family, the girls struggle to keep their faith alive in a hostile environment. I literally sat on the edge of my seat wondering what would happen next. Interspersed throughout the film are also fun “appearances” by historic figures (George Washington and Benjamin Franklin among them). And, through it all, I kept saying to myself, “This is a real story, this really happened.”
Because of the emotional themes, the movie is rated PG-13. But, they are dealt with tastefully with no gratuitous violence. And, I really appreciated the open, natural depiction of the family’s faith.
I’m not going to give away any more of the story line, but it’s a fascinating true story. After the film ended, I found myself searching for information about the family on the internet. I wanted to know more.
As the credits roll, you are in for one final treat. Quadriplegic Christian artist and speaker, Joni Eareckson Tada, sings the title song. I urge you to just sit and let this amazing song roll over you. I had tears streaming down my face while I pictured Joni’s husband pushing on her diaphragm so that she would have enough air to sing (she only has 50% lung capacity). The end result is a song that is hauntingly beautiful.
Alone Yet Not Alone is opening on June 13. I urge you to check it out. Hollywood would have us believe that there is no interest in movies like this. They say we want violence and nudity. Let’s prove them wrong!
