Scripture assures us that God is near the brokenhearted and that He answers prayer. That biblical message is also a theme in “Ordinary Angels,” a new film from producers Jon and Andy Erwin.
Based on a true story, “Ordinary Angels” is the account of an alcoholic hairdresser who stumbles on to a grieving family. Needing a sense of purpose in her life, she decides to do what she can to help this father and daughter after finding out that the daughter has the same liver condition that killed her mother and needs a transplant to live more than a few years.
It’s a faith-inspired redemption story that shows the impact one person can make on another’s life, Andy Erwin said. Sometimes that impact comes from something as simple as the voice of a child, as illustrated in a scene in the film in which a young daughter, Ashley, visits her mother’s grave with her father, Ed Schmitt, and asks him, “Why don’t you talk to God anymore?”
Her question about the power of prayer hits even closer to home when the daughter continues the conversation with her dad.
“He kind of makes excuses for it,” Erwin said. “Then she says, ‘It’s okay if you’re angry. I get angry at people sometimes. … Why don’t you try talking to Him?’
“He’s really moved by it, trying not to cry, and says, ‘You first.’ She starts this simple prayer of a child,” Erwin continued.
Loving our neighbors
The Erwins, who are Birmingham natives, said the film brings a touch of their Alabama roots to the story.
“It’s a Kentucky story, a Southeastern story. There’s something about our blue-collar roots. It’s just the way we are — we help our neighbors,” Erwin said.
Andy Erwin’s brother and fellow producer, Jon Erwin, said, “I think this is the perfect film to follow ‘Jesus Revolution’ (which Jon Erwin helped write and direct). ‘Jesus Revolution’ is a film about spiritual awakening and revival. ‘Ordinary Angels’ is a film about how we can become known as Christians by how we love people in our communities.”
The main character, Schmitt, is “a man of few words, carries the weight of the world on his shoulders, doesn’t feel like anyone is coming to help him and has a hard time asking for help,” Andy Erwin said.
Erwin said he identifies with the moment in the film when Schmitt understands that he can’t do life all by himself, that he needs God and his church to face his challenges.
‘Relatable’
“This story is one that’s super-relatable to the Church and the idea of getting past yourself and looking out past the church walls where there are those hurting and desperately needing help. This puts hands and feet back to the message Jesus called us to,” Erwin said.
Even during the making of “Ordinary Angels,” Erwin was amazed at some of the ways God provided to make it the highest-scoring film in Lionsgate’s history during its in-person screenings.
One high point was not only getting Hilary Swank, a two-time Oscar winner, to play the hairdresser, but to have her so enthusiastic about the role that she was willing to do it without a contract if needed.
“She showed up and is on set and just inhabits this role. She’s passionate about it. For us, that was a moment where God provided just the right voice. I have a lot of gratitude for that,” he said.
Alan Ritchson was also God-given to play Schmitt. Ritchson is a man’s man — a former Marine who loves Jesus.
“He plays it so you can just feel the weight that he’s carrying,” Erwin said.
Overcoming roadblocks
This doesn’t mean there weren’t any struggles to get the story told, with the most serious one being that the original producers held on to it for more than 10 years.
“The roadblock that kept it from getting made ultimately became, I think, its saving grace,” Erwin said. “The rush that you feel of not feeling alone in your struggle is significant. I think that we desperately need that rush of hope right now with what’s going on in the world.
“So I think it was meant to be the time it came out. Those roadblocks that kept it from getting made for years just meant that it had a perfect window for when it was supposed to be told.”
“Ordinary Angels” is a narrative on how “sometimes the most healing thing in a person’s life is to be able to help heal other people,” Erwin said. The hairdresser battles her own addictions throughout the course of the film but learns she has to get outside of herself and seek something bigger than herself to find her own purpose and value — especially her value to God, he added.
“There’s a beautiful healing that takes place on that side of the story line that allows messy people to find purpose. I think even seeing the Church embrace all of those people in our story was something that we’re really, really passionate about,” Erwin said.
“Ordinary Angels” will be in theaters Feb. 23. Learn more at ordinaryangels.movie.
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