A modern-day retelling of the Bible story The Prodigal Son, written and directed in-house by Deacon James E. O. Steen Jr., this is Grace Ministries’ short film The Father’s Love.
According to my research, Grace Refuge Ministries is a non-denominational Christian ministry that seeks to reach and encourage men of all ages to discover God’s love and what purpose He has for them. The ministry offers a variety of programs and resources to help men grow in their faith and in their relationship with God. These programs include Bible studies, workshops, and retreats. They also offer a mentorship program that pairs men with other men who can provide guidance and support.
Their first-ever film, The Father’s Love, is based on the biblical story of the Prodigal Son and focuses on a father’s unconditional love for his wayward son. The film follows a young man named David who, at 16, is becoming his own person and begins to doubt his beliefs and lose his place in the world. Over the next 50 minutes, we follow David as he journeys towards temptation and then back to redemption. Along the way, we watch him have conversations with friends, family, and pastors that impact his decisions and the direction of his life. Ultimately, he learns the error of his ways and regains his faith.
The film’s opening credits run alongside photographs of parishioners with their fathers, which is a sweet way to begin. However, overall, the film is a difficult production to review as it exists in its own genre. It is a Christian short film that has a semblance of a plot, but it is also mainly a sermon. We get a lot of scenes of David being told by everyone how good God is and how bad Satan is, and that both of them have a plan for him. A lot of the film takes place in conversation, and we get many two-shots of David speaking to someone else. The camera remains static throughout, but as David begins to lose his money, lifestyle, and home, the occasional drone shot and location change help keep things moving.
Due to this being the first film that Grace Ministries has ever made, there are a lot of technical issues with the film. The sound is glitchy at times and some of the transitions are clunky. However, while some of the acting is patchy, the majority of the performances are nice, controlled, and natural. Aharon Isby is particularly likable and compelling as Daniel throughout the film.
At its most basic level, The Father’s Love is a streamlined sermon that wants to tell us about the love of God and teach us that His love is unconditional, even if we make mistakes. It also tells us, like the Prodigal Son story itself, that God is always willing to forgive us and welcome us back into His family. The film is certainly not for everyone, but the core takeaway that we should never give up on our loved ones, that we should forgive them when they make mistakes, and always welcome them back into our lives, is a sentiment that I think most people can get on board with.
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