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Sean Patrick Brennan as Father Joyce

It is wonderful to see Gener8Xion Entertainment producing something other than its usual ridiculous apocalyptic fare (The Omega Code, Megiddo). The Christian releasing company behind the lavish but timid One Night with the King has here picked up a film whose power lies in its simplicity as a modern parable. Blending A Christmas Carol with Charlie Brown, It's a Wonderful Life with Waking Ned Divine, Gener8Xion Entertainment has adopted a film that will have a limited and financially inconsequential release (less than 250 theaters on release day), but represents a satisfying step forward for religious filmmaking all the same.

Despite a mostly even script and some very pretty cinematography, Noë lle is not without its faults. It's a good thing that we become engrossed in the act of the townsfolk putting on the life sized crèche, because the idea of a giant Nativity as the sole means of saving a church from financial ruin is a silly conceit that never feels remotely believable.

The cast of characters could've come right out of Lake Wobegone

All of the actors, with the exception of Brennan, do a terrific job. Brennan is sporadic at best, competent one moment and an obvious amateur the next. While the film is never crippled by his portrayal, the scenes in which he is a part do suffer somewhat. It is the talented triple-threat of David Wall who is the strong core of the movie's success. His fine acting, authentic script and capable eye have produced a film that generates a beautiful message without the sort of heavy-handed moralizing so indicative of the vast majority of Christian fare.

Noë lle balances wit and pathos, legalism and relationship, guilt and grace in such a way that will ring true in both your heart and your head this yuletide season. The film will amuse and enchant, reminding us that miracles, in this season more than most, really do exist, and that the true meaning of the Christmas is close at hand when we embrace the gift of grace that is a child.

To find where Noë lle is playing in theaters, click here.

Talk About It

1. From the beginning to the end of the film, Father Keene is haunted by visions of a young girl named Noë lle, a Dickinsonian ghost of Christmas past that both represents the priest's emotional agony and his eventual atonement. For whom might the child be an allegory? Is there a "Noë lle" in your life?
2. Have you ever tried to use your faith as a refuge to run from your sins instead of a place to have them washed away? Did it work? Why or why not?
3. All of us have been burdened by guilt in one form or another. How did you discover that "there is therefore no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus" or is it a revelation you still need to hear?
4. What is most important to you and your church? What was most important to the people of the church in this film?
5. If you happen to be a Catholic viewer, how do you feel about the controversial choice Father Keene makes at the end of the film?

The Family Corner

Noë lle is rated PG for thematic elements and a fight, but is extraordinarily tame as far as PG ratings go. There are still a few moments that might confuse some younger children, including several instances of alcohol consumption and a fistfight, both involving ministers, and several discussions of sex outside of marriage ending in abortion. While parental discretion should always be always paramount, all but the youngest children should be able navigate the film's realistic portrayals.

Photos © Copyright Gener8Xion Entertainment, Inc.

© Brandon Fibbs subject to licensing agreement with Christianity Today International. All rights reserved. Click for reprint information.

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