Mill Creek Entertainment has selected June 13 as the
DVD debut date for writer/director Jeffrey A. Smith’s Dove-Approved faith-based
story of hope and redemption, Southern Gospel.
The film had a limited theatrical run in March and
arrives with an ARR of 95 days. The
reviews were solid and audiences responded enthusiastically, often commenting
that Southern Gospel wasn’t
a “cookie-cutter” faith-based tale.
Indeed, recording artist-turned-filmmaker Jeffrey A.
Smith, drew heavily on his own experiences growing up — and his career in the
music business — to weave his tale about Samuel Allen (Max Ehrich — four-time
Emmy Award nominee for his continuing role as Fenmore Baldwin on The Young
and the Restless … as Hunter May in the Under the
Dome television series), the son of a widowed Pastor
(played by Gary Weeks), who finds failing in the mixed messages of “organized”
religion.
During the 1960s (younger version of Sam is played
by Beau Hart) Sam grows up with anger, not just with what he sees as hypocrisy
among the church goers and church officials, but over the blame he feels for
the death of his mother.
Without giving away too much — Southern
Gospel is really a film to be seen and enjoyed
— there are two critical points in the story. First, as a teen Sam meets Julie Ledbetter
(Katelyn Nacon — perhaps best known to audiences as Enid in The
Walking Dead series, plus such films as Devil’s
Peak, Breathing Happy), whose family life is none too
pretty.
Second, Sam forms a rock band and takes to the
road. Yes, sex, drugs and rock ‘n roll
all come together in a tragic accident, which proves to be something of a
wake-up call for our young rebel.
These two elements will play an important part in
moving the storyline along. The production
values are top-notch, the music is also an essential part of the film
(soundtrack is stunning) and the message — the faith-based message — is presented
with all of the blemishes and failings that are a part of life.
Be sure to put this on your must-see list in
June. On DVD from Mill Creek Entertainment
on June 13.
