Anyone who is among the living has hope —even a live dog is better off than a dead lion!

Ecclesiastes 9:4 ~ New International Version (NIV)

This Mother’s Day, me and my grandmother (who is more like my mother) checked PureFlix–a Christian film streaming channel–to see if they had added any intriguing movies for us to watch. We stumbled upon Hope Lives, a new movie that was just recently released. Although I was a little unsure of what to expect from the movie, it easily became one of the best films that I’ve ever watched.

The protagonist–who is played by the wonderful director, Anthony Hackett–lost his daughter as a result of bullying, which was revealed in the opening scene of the film. Dramatic start, I know. But hey; it is a drama, after all.

While Mr. Ryan is heartbroken due to what happened, I admire how he uses his experience for good by volunteering to form a club with high school students to discuss ways to stop bullying. The fact that the movie went so in-depth into the topic –without being violent or derogatory–was super refreshing to witness.

Each of the students that Mr. Ryan counsels experiences bullying in a different form, but we really get to know each of their stories and struggles, making every main character likeable and relatable over a really short period of time.

It really stood out to me that every highlighted victim of bullying eventually learned how to stand up for themselves in a way that didn’t include violence or inappropriate language; I think that it shows the people of today’s world that while you shouldn’t sit there and allow people to mistreat you, it is more effective to stand up for yourself without punching back (neither verbally, nor physically).

As the club members begin to build friendships with one another, the film begins to dive into other important topics such as body image, self confidence, and showing yourself respect just as much as you would expect it from others. The acting feels real (another great element of the movie) and I think that makes the smallest of moments that much more powerful and memorable.

Hope Lives (2022) is the utter definition of an emotional roller coaster. While there were many wholesome, funny moments, I also found myself frozen in shock and nearly in tears, at some points. It’s honestly amazing how this film is extremely family friendly and fun to watch, yet there are a lot of powerful moments that will likely sit with any viewer, regardless of age.

Every moment that I spent watching this film was a moment well spent. I thank God for letting me watch it in full with Goodmommy on her special day.

My Overall Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (10 out of 10 stars)

Recommended Age: All Ages 10+

In closing, I would recommend this movie to absolutely ANYONE who is 10 years of age and older. It is powerful, inspirational, and a film that I believe everyone can get something special out of. This was a fantastic watch for both me and Goodmommy, and I would definitely watch it again, in the future.

Thank you so much for stopping at my corner of the Internet. God bless you all, and I will see you next time! Peace in! ✨