Intentions
Beth and Kathy blogged about the Amish Grace Lifetime Movie that was shown this past week.
I'd read the book and it was amazing. It helped me to understand how the Amish could be so forgiving after the Nickel Mines school shooting tragedy. While the movie had a few good moments, I didn't like it. The biggest problem that I had was that it was fictionalized. When something is fictionalized, it can be easy to blur the line between what really happened and fiction. For example, many people accept as fact what happened in The Perfect Storm movie when in fact the lead character was fictionalized and his family experienced great pain over the portrayal. There was no "Ida Graber" whose child was killed in the school. Someone wrote a comment that perhaps the screen writers felt that by using a fictional character who didn't immediately forgive as the Amish parents did that we Englisch had a chance to identify with her and learn to forgive. That's a great comment but I don't entirely agree. I think that the two screenwriters didn't have the sensitivity, the heart, or the research skills for the project but maybe I'm biased because I looked at their credits and saw that one of them did the sensationalized Pregnancy Pact movie on the same network. This Amish Grace production had stereotyped Amish characters who behaved in a stiff, predictable way, it felt like there were heavy-handed scenes designed to teach us something about the Amish (and most of you readers know more than they do...a washboard for laundry?!) and so on.
I'd also like to say that some people have said that the movie producers capitalized on the tragedy, took advantage of it and sensationalized it. I started my career as a newspaper reporter and many people believe the media does this but for the most part, I believe they are better than that and help us learn about what's going on in our world and make us care about things like social issues we should care about. The book authors wanted to help spread understanding about the Amish forgiving the shooter. The people who made the Lifetime movie may have had the best of intentions to do that. But they failed because they made a movie that simply was a poorly conceived attempt to cash in on the current interest in the Amish.
CONGRATULATIONS! Beth, Kathy, and Amy made one or more Christian bestseller lists this week and An Amish Gathering, the novella collection by Beth, Kathy, and me made the CBA bestseller list as well.
The winner of the recipe contest is Stella. She'd like to see a recipe for the peanut butter spread the Amish like to eat after church services. Stella wins an Advance Reading Copy (ARC) of A Time to Love when I get it.
Blessings,
Barbara
I'd read the book and it was amazing. It helped me to understand how the Amish could be so forgiving after the Nickel Mines school shooting tragedy. While the movie had a few good moments, I didn't like it. The biggest problem that I had was that it was fictionalized. When something is fictionalized, it can be easy to blur the line between what really happened and fiction. For example, many people accept as fact what happened in The Perfect Storm movie when in fact the lead character was fictionalized and his family experienced great pain over the portrayal. There was no "Ida Graber" whose child was killed in the school. Someone wrote a comment that perhaps the screen writers felt that by using a fictional character who didn't immediately forgive as the Amish parents did that we Englisch had a chance to identify with her and learn to forgive. That's a great comment but I don't entirely agree. I think that the two screenwriters didn't have the sensitivity, the heart, or the research skills for the project but maybe I'm biased because I looked at their credits and saw that one of them did the sensationalized Pregnancy Pact movie on the same network. This Amish Grace production had stereotyped Amish characters who behaved in a stiff, predictable way, it felt like there were heavy-handed scenes designed to teach us something about the Amish (and most of you readers know more than they do...a washboard for laundry?!) and so on.
I'd also like to say that some people have said that the movie producers capitalized on the tragedy, took advantage of it and sensationalized it. I started my career as a newspaper reporter and many people believe the media does this but for the most part, I believe they are better than that and help us learn about what's going on in our world and make us care about things like social issues we should care about. The book authors wanted to help spread understanding about the Amish forgiving the shooter. The people who made the Lifetime movie may have had the best of intentions to do that. But they failed because they made a movie that simply was a poorly conceived attempt to cash in on the current interest in the Amish.
CONGRATULATIONS! Beth, Kathy, and Amy made one or more Christian bestseller lists this week and An Amish Gathering, the novella collection by Beth, Kathy, and me made the CBA bestseller list as well.
The winner of the recipe contest is Stella. She'd like to see a recipe for the peanut butter spread the Amish like to eat after church services. Stella wins an Advance Reading Copy (ARC) of A Time to Love when I get it.
Blessings,
Barbara
Posted by Barbara Cameron at 4/1/2010 9:46 PM 
Categories: Amish movies, Amish Grace
Tags: Amish fiction and movies
Categories: Amish movies, Amish Grace
Tags: Amish fiction and movies
Barbara, congratulations to you, Beth, Amy, and Kathy on all the new honors with your books on the bestseller lists! I pray each day for each of you to continue to be inspired by the Lord and spread His love through your writing.
Reply to this
Thank you, Cathey! You are sweet!
Reply to this
I appreciate your opinions on the movie. I just could not watch it, as I just felt it was wrong!! There were many issues stated with which I agreed. But overall, I just have such feeling and respect for the Amish, that to me, it would have been wrong to use their tragedy to enjoy- meaning watching the movie!! Thank you, Barbara, for reinforcing what I believe.
Reply to this
Oh Yay! I'm so excited! Can't wait to get it! Thanks so much!!
Reply to this
I, too, read the book "Amish Grace" last year. When I saw this movie was being made I worried if they would "do it right". They did fictionalize it. But I knew going into it that they would have to do that. Otherwise, how would they fill 2 hours of TV time. However, I still believe that they got across a very important message--that being the message of forgiveness. And I think that they did that. In talking with several non-believers the Monday morning after the movie was on Sunday night, I was able to witness to them about God's love & God's grace. This movie made them think about those things! And I will never critize something that makes people think about God & his goodness! I feel the movie was a good witnessing tool and I applaud it for that.
Reply to this
Cathy H., you make a good point about the movie was a vehicle to witness to others. I think anything that opens up a conversation to learn more about each other is a good thing. Sometimes people would be upset about something in the newspaper where I worked...they thought a photo was too graphic or whatever. Well, it made people think about something like people were starving or dying or whatever and that made them care and think about what they should do. So if the movie helps people think about the topic of forgiveness or understanding another culture or, even better, about God, that's a good thing!
Reply to this
I know this was posted so long ago but I truly wanted to thank you for this post. While I think that maybe this did help people understand it did it in a way I do not agree with at all. I haven't read the book but would like to one day. As someone close to the Amish and know of people involved in the tragedy I agree totally with you Barbara. Thanks for posting it really is appreciated!
Kate
Reply to this