DVD Now Available: Released Oct.5, 2010 by Spyplane Films; Directed by: Ken Horstmann; Cast:  Randall Bentley (Solomon White), Leah Sims (Wren Woods), Taylor St. Clair (Mrs. Buck), Blair Jasin (Cody), Jeremy Harrison (Craig Parker), Kay Copeland (Cindee).

Great story, good acting, with a wonderful soundtrack.

Story of a high school senior with everything and everything going for him at least so it seems.  Solomon White is a rich kid, an accomplished Jock that is being heavily recruited by Ivy league schools, and has a pretty girl friend that won’t leave him alone.

At the beginning I thought this would be just another teen love story with little substance where the hero doesn’t get along with his parents and snows his teachers, but I was wrong.

Solomon is a bright kid that is trying to cruise his way into an Ivy league athletic scholarship for lacrosse by doing the bare minimum in school work.  Meanwhile behind the scenes his mother is pulling strings and making contributions to her former alma mater to get him in and his girl friend Cindee who he broke up with is pressuring him to take their relationship to the next level.

In the midst of it all Mrs. Buck a Christian teacher takes an interest in Solomon and sees lots of potential but forces him into a writing project to make up for a copied paper that he had turned in as his own. With his scholarship on the line Solomon has to respond whether he likes it or not.

During a big game of lacrosse against a major rival Solomon is hit hard and suffers a major concussion. He wakes up in the hospital and finds that his world has literally been turned upside down. He suffers from a rare condition where his eye sight is now turned around and upside down.

In the process of learning to cope with his new situation Solomon meets a new love interest Wren Woods who is blind but helps Solomon view his life in a new way and begin to make decisions for himself. Wren is a Christian girl who does not pressure him in any way but does take him to church which ends up being a turning point for Solomon. Wren along with Mrs. Buck helps Solomon to find God and really find himself in the process.

A marvelous story with all sorts of lessons for living. Great for the whole family and also a great movie for the youth group at church.

<<Here’s a link to where the DVD may be purchased>>

*Received DVD free for review: <<Read Disclosure Statement>>            *Top

Cast: John Ashton – Mike (Dad), Thom Mathews – Dan, Corin Nemec – Dan (teen years), Paul Gleason – Tony, Janice Lynde – Erika (Mom), Mario Van Peebles – Norman, Megan Gallivan – Sue, Dana Barron – Kathy.

The story of Dan Donahue (Thom Matthews) who has met the girl of his dreams, Sue (Megan Gallivan). He plans on proposing after a dinner with her parents but in the midst of it he wonders if he can really commit to a wife and family.

Seeing her family, he begins to question whether he is really ready and able to love like that. He still has deep-seeded hurt and anger that needs to be overcome–anger and feelings of abandonment caused by his father leaving him when he was just a young boy. Then there’s the fear that maybe he’ll be just like his old man.

Dan calls it quits with Sue instead, then spends some time alone trying to make sense of it all. In the midst of his introspection he cries out to God: “What do I gotta do to be free to Love?” In the moment of inspiration that follows, Dan decides to write a letter to his father, directly confronting him with the feelings of bitterness, disappointment, and disengagement that he experienced over the years.

(View the trailer-A Letter to Dad)

While Dan is writing his letter, we see his life unfold before us. First, the loving father and son relationship that quickly changes when his father (John Ashton – Mike) leaves and divorces his mother (Janice Lynde – Erika). As his father takes off for the first time, Dan cries out to God: “Why are you doing this to me?”

It doesn’t help that his mother remarries and he has to live with a jerk of a step-dad (Paul Gleason- Tony). Then, the unsatisfying time that he has every other weekend with his Dad who seems more intent on blaming everyone else and drowning his troubles in boos than on loving and spending time with his son.

Then comes the rebellion and challenges that he faces as a troubled teen–looking for love and affirmation in all the wrong places. The shock of a friends suicide brings Dan to the place where he decides to make something of his life–”to be somebody“.

He turns to God in the process and there is one scene where he goes to church with his mother and the pastor tells him that God is always there and unconditionally loves him.

As a young man, he begins to make a success of his life. Years later we see him meet the love of his life, Sue, followed by vignettes of loving courtship.

The film has a powerful ending and a message that is sure to encourage and inspire–”a touching story of how faith and love can overcome a lifetime of pain and anger.”

The sound track and music for this film is really awesome–featuring inspirational songs by a number of Christian artists including Jeremy and Adie Camp, Decyfer Down, and others.           

*Note: A Letter to Dad received the highest possible award– 5 Doves– by The Dove Foundation. 

**For more info. and to purchase the DVD: http://www.alettertodad.com/

***Possible Uses of A Letter to Dad as a Ministry Tool:

Pastors and Church leaders: This would be an excellent film to use as a resource in ministry. The message is particularly appropriate for use by Men’s groups, Youth Groups, Parent or Single Parent groups.

The Movie could be shown to a specific group, followed by a guided question and answer session exploring relational issues.

For example: How experiences or lack of love or support from our parents, particularly our fathers, growing up can affect our lives and how we relate to others. Why it is important for both parents, especially fathers, to reach out to their children in love.

Also, how God, as our heavenly Father, is always there for us regardless–making up for what we didn’t get from our parents (or in cases of abuse, what we did get)–reaching out to offer us unconditional love and help to overcome all of the challenges before us.         *Top