The best and most memorable stories are usually universal. They appeal to so many because they say something fundamental about us, the world, and being alive – something everyone can relate to. 

This week, we’re looking at films that manage to connect with us through realistic difficulty and hardship. While these stories may initially be painful or worrying to consider, they can teach us more about our faith and how to develop it (so long as they don’t overly dwell in the darkness). 

Such stories can trigger reflection or discussion about faith among communities who don’t consciously cultivate a relationship with God. The true power of art like this is that, by getting all of us to ask the same questions, it can bring different perspectives together… all in hopes of pointing to the greater Truth.

Based on a 2008 documentary of the same name, Song Sung Blue dramatizes the musical journey of Lightning and Thunder, a Milwaukee-based husband-and-wife Neil Diamond tribute act. Written and directed by Craig Brewer, Song Sung Blue follows the couple over decades — from breakout success to tragedy and reconciliation. It’s a rousing, engrossing musical biopic that honors faith and highlights our evergreen capacity for redemption.

WHERE TO WATCH →

Sometimes, reality must be exaggerated to make a point. John Huston’s film adaptation of Flannery O’Connor’s novel does an excellent job of depicting harsh realities in order to make a point. Wise Blood follows a young huckster who founds the Church Without Christ, a charismatic cult and con scheme, and the trail of ruin its preacher leaves behind. It’s a sharp black comedy that explores the evil inherent in the cynical exploitation of faith.

WHERE TO WATCH →

Craig Brewer knows that you don’t have to live in California to make an impact on the film industry. Born in Virginia, Brewer now resides in Memphis, where he writes and finishes all his work, and gives him a jumping off point to film all over the American South. 

Brewer has made a wide range of movies, from musical dramas such as Song Sung Blue to romantic comedies like Coming 2 America. But whatever genre he’s working in, Brewer has always used film to tell human stories of sin and redemption. Raised Southern Baptist with a respect for science, Brewer often addresses big questions about faith without including explicitly Christian imagery in his films, which enables him to share his stories widely.

While many of his films confront depravity, Brewer manages to honestly represent his subjects without veering into mockery or gratuitous parody. When asked how he writes authentically flawed characters, Brewer responded that people trust him because he observes their lives without casting judgement. 

This approach suggests that viewers want stories about real people, especially those not often told in Hollywood. It shows us that, so long as we listen with sincerity and decency, we can make our voices heard… and people will listen.

Named after the Virginia Sweetspire plant, Sweetspire TV is an up-and-coming streaming channel devoted to storing and sharing independent films about the South — and by Southern filmmakers — across a variety of genres. 

From dramatic classics like One Came Home to the short-form horror-comedy Homeboys Haunted franchise, Sweetspire TV has curated a diverse collection of media to cater to anyone with a hankering for Southern voices.

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“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” – Philippians 4:8 (ESV)

There is no good without evil — and if there was, we might not be able to see it. Confronting pain, evil, and sin are the very tests that show us what good is and where it lies in the world. This is what makes adversity and the unfamiliar worth encountering. 

The challenge for Christian speakers, thinkers, and artists – including filmmakers – is to engage with potentially difficult content without harming viewers, or unintentionally glorifying the behavior or situations those creators meant to condemn. 

Fortunately, with focus, judgment, and trust in God, we can learn from almost any experience we gaze upon… and contemplate the ways the characters can seek out redemption.

Until next time,

THE PLUMB NEWS TEAM