Movie Review: "I Heard the Bells"

"I Heard the Bells," produced by Sight & Sound Films (which shares the same parent company that operates the popular Broadway-style theaters in Lancaster, Pennsylvania and Branson, Missouri), is a treat to watch every Christmas. It depicts the true story behind the Christmas carol "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day," written by poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.

Set in the 19th century, the film shows Longfellow in his prime, being prestigiously hailed as a much-loved and influential writer who tackled the issues of the day, such as the evils of slavery. It also beautifully captures the love that he shared with his wife Fanny, who was his greatest supporter and encourager. It is recorded that the couple had six children together.

However, happiness soon turns to deep sorrow as tragedy strikes and Longfellow finds himself raising a family alone. He falls into a depression and consequently has no desire to write poetry. In the midst of his internal struggle, and to add to his stressors, his son Charley decides to join the Civil War despite his father's objections.

One of the more moving scenes of the film is when Charley questions if God was asleep when his mother died. Charley himself faces grave danger while serving in the battle, and subsequent scenes leave the viewer on the edge of their seat. Is Charley going to lose his life also?

Longfellow regains his courage to write again and pens what is now known as the carol "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day." My favorite line in the composition is "God is not dead nor doth He sleep. The wrong shall fail, the right prevail, with peace on Earth, good will to men."

The production quality of the film and acting are superb, which is not the case for all Christian films, at least in my humble opinion. While some movies leave a lot to be desired, "I Heard the Bells" is a keeper to revisit every Christmas. It came out in theaters in 2022 and is now available on DVD.