By REY FLORES
We’ve all heard the expression about life throwing us a few curve balls and our resolve to try and overcome them, but sometimes those curve balls get the best of us and we strike out. Just because we may strike out here and there doesn’t mean that the game is over.
That is the case with the terrific new film Where Hope Grows, where we meet Calvin Campbell, a former professional baseball player sent to an early retirement due to his panic attacks at the plate. Campbell falls into a lifestyle of late nights, excessive drinking, and wallowing in self-pity to the point where he’s on the verge of losing his teenage daughter.
His life is in a slow downward spiral when it is suddenly awakened and invigorated by the most unlikely person — Produce, a young man with Down syndrome who works at the local grocery store.
Produce is gloriously played by actor David DeSanctis in his first feature film, where he makes the perfect friend for the self-pitying mess that Campbell has become.
Calvin slowly loses the chip on his shoulder as he begins to experience the world through Produce’s eyes.
The unlikely pair become intertwined giving Calvin’s life new meaning and purpose, but unfortunately leads to tragedy due to a single decision echoed from Calvin’s past.
Where Hope Grows truly delivers because not only do we see the value of a person with Down syndrome, but we also see the value of a person who is addicted to alcohol, but has so much yet to offer, if that wicked old John Barleycorn just got out of his way.
The fact that most babies diagnosed with Down syndrome are aborted in our society is a sad reality, so when I get to see someone like DeSanctis shine on the screen as he does in this movie, it makes me wonder and lament just how many more talented people with Down syndrome our world has been denied.
Sadly, the world sees both alcoholics and people with Down syndrome as almost lesser people than what the world may consider normal — whatever normal means nowadays. In this film, we see that these folks are oftentimes some of the best members of our society, if we only take a closer heartfelt look.
In Where Hope Grows, we see a man rejected by society because of the way he was born help lift a man who was once on top of the world, but was thrown a curve ball he seemingly could not overcome. That is, until he met Produce.
Please support these good Christian films on their opening weekends. It helps to send Hollywood the message that we want more wholesome family-friendly films, and less of that dumbed-down trash we get so much of.
Where Hope Grows opens in theaters nationwide on May 15, 2015.
Visit www.wherehopegrowsmo
vie.com to watch the trailer.
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(Rey Flores reviews books and film for The Wanderer. Contact Rey at reyfloresusa@gmail.com.)
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