Rey Flores – March 1, 2015
If there’s a genre of film that I am not necessarily a big fan of, it’s documentaries. They seem so academic and formal that little room is left for the humanity of the person aside from facts and history. ‘The Drop Box’ is the exception to the rule.
‘The Drop Box’ tells the story of one man’s efforts to protect and care for newborn babies who might have otherwise been abandoned on the streets of Seoul, South Korea. Pastor Lee Jong-Rak built a ‘baby box’ – a safe harbor to welcome and care for these babies.
So far, more than 600 babies – many of whom have disabilities – have been helped. Pastor Lee continues to take in one child, on average, every three days. At any one time, Pastor Lee, his wife Chun-ja, and a small team of volunteers care for as many as 20 kids.
The film tells Pastor Lee’s story and how he one day came upon a newborn who has been abandoned on a cold night in a Seoul alley. That experience prompted him to build a ‘baby box’ at the front of his church – a warm, safe place where desperate mothers can leave babies that would otherwise be abandoned. Many of the babies who are left in Pastor Lee’s baby box have developmental or physical impediments.
While the documentary mainly tells the story of Pastor Lee, it is really telling the story of all of the beautiful babies and children that God has entrusted to this man. Make sure you bring the tissues when viewing ‘The Drop Box’ because you’ll definitely be moved to tears, not of sadness, but of hope.
‘The Drop Box’ was directed by 24 year old Brian Ivie, a graduate of the University of Southern California’s School of Cinematic Arts, when he was only 22. “Through this movie, we’re hoping that people would see more than Christians working on behalf of orphans,” said Ivie. “We’re hoping that people would see a God who has always and will always love the broken and the lost.”
Ivie was personally impacted as he directed ‘The Drop Box.’ As he accepted the ‘Best of Festival’ award for the documentary at the 2013 San Antonio Independent Christian Film Festival, Ivie told the audience: “I became a Christian while making this movie. When I started to make it, and I saw all these kids come through the drop box – it was like a flash from heaven. Just like these kids with disabilities had crooked bodies, I have a crooked soul. And God loves me still.”
The filmmakers in collaboration with Focus on the Family hope that ‘The Drop Box’ raises awareness about Pastor Lee and his important work and will inspire viewers to come alongside other adoptive families around the world who are answering God’s call to care for the fatherless and the widow.
Those who walk away from ‘The Drop Box’ wanting to learn how they can adopt or support adoptive families can visit www.thedropboxfilm.com. There they will find information on how to support orphans both here in the U.S. and Pastor Lee’s ministry.
Pine Creek Entertainment in association with Focus on the Family, Kindred Image and Fathom Events will present a special event for three nights only in select cinemas nationwide on March 3, 4 and 5, 2015, with the debut of ‘The Drop Box.’ This feature-length documentary will include an exclusive panel discussion. A portion of the film’s proceeds will go to support Pastor Lee’s ministry.
The Dove Foundation has awarded ‘The Drop Box’ five Doves, the highest rating available, in its review of the documentary. The film is appropriate for all audiences. Visit www.thedropboxfilm.com to watch the trailer.
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