TxMike We found this movie on DVD from our public library. Everything in it has been told many times in various forms so there is another reason to watch it. For the characters and the actors who represent them.It is about a couple of children, maybe 9 and 11, who must move from New York when their dad dies suddenly in a car accident, and their mother is physically uninjured but in a catatonic state. So they go to where their dad was raised, a rural mountainous part of Virginia. To live with their great grandmother who raised their dad after his mother deserted. The great grandmother and land owner is Ellen Burstyn, about 80, as Louisa Mae Cardinal. The side story drama is created by a coal company attempting to buy up all the surrounding land but since Louisa won't leave they try to pressure her.The young girl, maybe 11, and budding author is Mackenzie Foy as Lou Cardinal. (As an aside she played the younger Bursten character in 'Interstellar'.) The family lawyer and all around friendly guy is Josh Lucas is Cotton Longfellow, distantly related to the author Longfellow.Overall this is a nice, small movie with a good message about family and there being more to life than trying to get rich.

nowego Some viewers will find this a bit slow for them, but if you perceivere you will love it.I don't think I have ever seen an Ellen Burstyn performance that I did not like and MacKenzie Foy was just excellent in her role. In fact both children were rather well played by MacKenzie Foy and JP Vanderloo.If you are not into historical stories or aren't fond of feel good movies, give this a miss, you probably won't like it either. This is no lovey dovey romance, but it is a really good movie that can be watched by most, although not necessarily appreciated by all.Overall I really liked it and recommend it to anyone who wants to feel good about the world for a moment.6/10

ihavebestdogever Saw this film at the Richmond International Film Festival and was blown away. Made on a small budget, you wouldn't know it from the finished product. Great performances from Ellen Burstyn and Josh Luckas I was expecting but the children in the story, Mackenzie Foy and JP Vandeloo surprised me with wonderful performances as well. Terrific story of a family thrown together after tragedy and their struggles to overcome rural hardships in the 1940's by David Baldacci who I believe wrote the screenplay as well? Great family film, no reason to worry about young children watching it. Shot entirely amongst the beautiful scenery of southwest Virginia. Hope it sees wide distribution so my niece and nephew can see it in theaters.

Tom Littrell Ellen Burstyn and MacKenzie Foy are well cast. The setting of the movie in 1940 and Southwest Virginia are both nostalgic and beautiful. The movie faithfully follows the excellent book by the same name. The story moves along with a good pace. Josh Lucas' portrayal of a country lawyer is very believable. Keith Tyree handles his part very professionally. The different areas for filming were well chosen with the courthouse very representative of a period building. The antique vehicles picked to compliment the year 1940 were a good touch. The cinematography and sound is well done. The editing had a few areas that overlooked some obvious mistakes such as the 1938 Buick had 1938 license plates rather than the correct 1940 ones. There was a cell tower on a hill in the background and there were round bales of hay which wouldn't have around in 1940. All in all, a wonderful film.