Woodlawn (2015) [Movie Review]

Dir: Andrew and Jon Erwin

Starring: Sean Austin, Nic Bishop, Caleb Castille

Dur: 2 hrs 3 mins

Genre: Sports Biography

Rating: 8/10

We’ve seen quite a number of films that depict in varying degrees of severity the racial discrimination that was rampant in the United States until a few years ago. But I don’t recall ever seeing a film that focused on the role Christianity played in the fight for equality. Woodlawn is brilliant in its depiction of the true story of how the Christian faith brought about a marvelous change in the lives of hundreds of people living in and around Birmingham, U.S.A, which had a notorious reputation for being the centre of the most violence and destruction resulting from racial tension.

The film tells the story of Christ through the game of American football. We witness the miraculous transformation of an entire team in a matter of an hour and the subsequent effects of their conversion. Although it zones in on the manager and one black player, it delicately keeps the focus on Christ and how faith in Him transforms lives. The film has an optimistic mood that is attractive while the near-continuous action ensures you stay gripped. You don’t have to be a lover of sports to like this movie. There is something in the way it is made that appeals. The scenes are emotionally charged and knowing that this is only a silver screen depiction of a hard reality pushes the emotion to a higher level.

The acting, direction, camera work and music score are all very fine. I could hardly point out any flaws with the film. It has great potential to affect and change lives. I sincerely hope that every young person out there gets an opportunity to witness this brilliant piece of cinema which is loaded with lessons on life and faith.