Memphis, Tennessee is certainly not the place you expect to find the latest Christian movie, but following the success of Sherwood Baptist Church in Albany, GA, the Christian movie-making trend has spread across the country in churches from Riverside, CA to Chicago, IL; from Apopka, FL to Dallas, TX. Calvary Church in Memphis is offering their first contribution to Christian film with “THE GRACE CARD.” Starring Academy Award winner, Louis Gossett Jr. (AN OFFICER AND A GENTLMAN), it centers on the unlikely partnership between two cops: Mac ( Michael Joiner) is embittered by tragedy after losing his son in an accident. The 17 years of bitterness and pain erode his love for his family and leave him angry with God…and just about everyone else. The tension mounts when he is partnered with Sam Wright ( Mike Higgenbottom), a rising star on the force—who happens to be a part-time pastor and a loving family man. Can Mac accept grace from a God he abandoned and a man he detests? Can Mac and Sam somehow join forces to help one another when it’s impossible for either of them to look past their differences—especially the most obvious one?
THE GRACE CARD is the first movie from Memphis-based Graceworks Pictures in conjunction with Calvary Pictures. The film brings together local volunteers working alongside Hollywood professionals, including Howard A.Klausner (SPACE COWBOYS), John Saunders (WALK THE LINE, LEATHERHEADS) and John Nasraway (MASTERS AND COMMANDERS, TERMINATOR 3).
Graceworks is the vision of Dr. David Evans, a successful optometrist known in Memphis for his 15-plus years of producing Calvary Church’s annual passion play. He serves as the executive producer of THE GRACE CARD and it is his feature film-directing debut. "The point is to grab people by the heart," says director David Evans.
As with independent, faith-based films, THE GRACE CARD showcases people in unvarnished challenges, confronting what they believe against the hard places in life. How far does forgiveness go? That question beats at the heart of THE GRACE CARD.
Calvary Pictures is a ministry of Calvary Church in the Memphis suburb of Cordova. THE GRACE CARD will be marketed and released by Affirm Films and Provident Films and distributed by Samuel Goldwyn Films, the three companies behind FIREPROOF and FACING THE GIANTS. The release date is February 25, 2011.
Foe more information visit: http://www.thegracecardmovie.com/
Comments
Why would you say Memphis isn't the place to expect the latest Christian movie? Hello-- were in the bible belt. There are more churches than bars here....They still pray before city council and county commission meetings.
Hi, sorry I am just now responding to your post. It actually had nothing to do with the spiritual atmosphere of the city but just that Memphis isn't one of the major cities you think of when you think of film or Christian film. (Some of the areas that I know that are producing a lot of Christian films are Albany, GA, Los Angeles, etc.), Nothing derogatory intended whatsoever.
I just saw the film tonight at a pre-release screening. I definately recommend the film. Warning: even if you don't cry in movies, bring tissues. It is a very emotional movie.
Thanks for reading my article and thanks for your thoughts on "The Grace Card." I actually missed the showing in my town because I was out of town. I was so disappointed!
I have been blogging about this movie at my political blog for some time.
www.varight.com
Sandy
Nice blog, Sandy. Thanks for reading my column. I hope you continue to check in. I just posted an article on the release of "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader" along with a video interview I recently conducted with Micheal Flaherty of Walden Media.
Couldn't have picked a better racially divided city. I pray this movie sparks a revival in ALL of the church
everywhere; but, especially the Mid-South.
There is a multi-racial, multi-denominational group that meets every last Wed of the month to "Pray for Memphis & the Mid-South Region". If interested, go to www.pray4memphis.com
Amen! Thanks for sharing this website. I'm all about prayer.
The movies is definitely moving and deals with several crucial contemporary issues, race relations being most prominent perhaps. However there is a huge problem in the movie. How can you speak of grace and forgiveness and make no mention of Jesus Christ and His cross? Is there real grace and real forgiveness apart from Christ? Frankly it is alarming that Christians would endeavor to have a serious conversation about these subjects without placing Christ in the center of the conversation...and there were marvelous opportunities in the movie to do so. Tragic.
I totally agree that there is no grace and forgiveness apart from Jesus Christ. There are two styles of Christian filmmaking--the strongly evangelistic style that will reach mostly Christians (or maybe a few Christians who bring their non-Christian friends) or films that present a Christian world view without actually presenting the gospel in the hope of attracting those outside the church and maybe sparking an interest in spiritual issues that may lead to their trust in Jesus Christ down the road.I personally think there is a place for both types of films. But you have indeed make a valid point about the true source of grace and forgiveness.
Got something to say?
Examiner.com is looking for writers, photographers, and videographers to join the fastest growing group of local insiders. If you are interested in growing your online rep apply to be an Examiner today!