Film Review: ‘I Heard The Bells’

Written by: Kelly Meade (12/01/22)

We all experience grief at some point in our life. While it waxes and wanes with time, we all deal with the heaviness it brings in our own way. For many, life can become unbearable and things that brought you joy no longer do. When you do find the light again, you’ll discover that faith never truly left you.

I Heard The Bells tells the story of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow and the inspiration behind the timeless Christmas carol “I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day”.

Henry is a devout family man who expresses his joy and unique perspective on life through poetry as he became one of the best-known poets of the mid-1800s. Henry is portrayed as a caring, happy man who loves his family dearly as we see them celebrate the Christmas season.

With the sudden loss of Henry’s wife Fanny, he is left to navigate life and raise six children on his own. This profoundly affected his ability to write as he could no longer find the inspiration or desire to do so.

As the Civil War rages, Henry’s oldest son, Charley, enlists and the thought of potentially losing another person weighs on him. When word arrives that Charley has been severely injured, Henry vows to bring his son home. Through his experience, Charley’s life is changed and this slowly begins to spark hope in his father’s heart again as well.

At a pivotal moment, Henry realizes that light & faith are still very much alive and well as his creative inspiration flourishes once more.

I Heard The Bells is the first feature film by Sight & Sound Theatres as they embark on a new chapter with Sight & Sound Films. Well-known for their stellar stage productions of stories from the Bible, this step into movies sets a wonderful standard for future films. I Heard The Bells is captivating with beautiful cinematography, sets & costumes created with care and attention to detail. While the story doesn’t shy away from the very real emotions when faced with grief and loss, it also triumphantly declares that faith is the anchor that holds through every storm and can renew hope in the most broken hearts.

Visit https://www.iheardthebellsmovie.com/ to see when it is playing in your area and purchase tickets.

Cast includes:

Stephen Atherholt as Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Jonathan Blair as Charley Longfellow
Rachel Day Hughes as Fanny Longfellow

Rating: 4.3/5