Starring: Tommie-Amber Pirie, Gregory Wilson, Maddy Martin, Bill Lake, Michael Mancini
Distributor: Movies Change People/ Heritage Films
Runtime: 90 mins. Reviewed in Oct 2024
Reviewer: Fr Peter Malone msc
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After the War of 1812, William Miller sets off on a quest for meaning that unravels a profound truth with the power to transform everything. His revelation sparks a fire in Ellen Harmon, who braves fierce resistance to champion the cause.
The Hopeful is a religious film, that traces the origins of the Seventh Day Adventist Church. While the film has its own audience (worldwide there are around 22 million Adventists), director Portbury hopes that the film will tell a story to a wider audience. Portbury characterises this story as one failure but one of hope and belief.
For Christians, watching the film and discussing it, can be an exercise in ecumenism – a catalyst to discuss faith, discuss beliefs, interpretations of the Bible… Since The Hopeful is getting a wide release in Australian cinemas, this discussion is relevant.
Because this is a straightforward telling of the story, enthusiastically made by the writers and the director and an earnest cast, it perhaps can be easily dismissed by secular audiences who see no relevance in it. However, considering the ranges of churches and their large numbers of members, it has its historical relevance.
The framework of the film is an Adventist missionary on a paddle steamer, recounting the story of the movement to his two children. As he tells the story, the narrative goes into flashbacks, beginning with a focus on William Miller. The religious Miller, who was wounded in the war of 1812, is now a gentleman farmer of the New England region of the US. He studies the Scriptures from a literal standpoint. Working from numbers in various books, including the book of Daniel, he decides that the second coming of Christ was to be in 1844. He preaches vigorously, finds some followers but also doubters, with many walking away. When the physical second coming of Christ does not eventuate, he retires, and there were differing interpretations of how Christ would be coming into the world.
However, some of his supporters continue his mission, most especially Ellen Harmon. Only 16, she develops into something of a visionary herself over the decades. While the drama of the initial flashbacks focus on Miller, more attention is given to Harmon – the movement against her by sceptics, her being accepted as a spokesperson, her marriage, her husband’s illness, her children, personal grief but continued commitment. There is authenticity in the costumes, décor, manners of New England – reminiscent one might say of the atmosphere of Little Women.
Particularly striking is the sequence of the meeting where discussion focuses on the name of the group, their interpretation of Saturday as the seventh day of rest, and their eagerness for the coming of Christ, and the agreement on Adventist in their name.
The film is a morale boost for Adventist audiences. An opportunity for other Christians to learn something about the church, its emergence in 19th-century America, reflect on its beliefs and discuss its literal interpretations of the Bible, especially in light of scholarship over the past 200 years.
12 Random Films…
