By: Ali Elizabeth Turner
On Tuesday, February 3, I found myself in Nashville in a heady state of wonder, and am still trying to get my thinking and senses around the exquisite beauty, fellowship, connection, creativity, and hospitality that I experienced. I had been invited to the première of Still Hope, the movie whose “lobby still” picture that you see to your left has occupied page two of Athens Now for several editions. Promoting the upcoming showing of the film on February 5-9, has recently been my top priority, and now finally I had the chance to see the whole thing from start to finish. I had been devouring the movie trailers as soon as they dropped, trying to piece together how they did the film, and dealing with the surreality of knowing the people and the place from which this marvelous story of triumph over trauma unfolds has been fascinating.
A couple of things before we go further—the Fisher Center for the Performing Arts, where the première was held needs to be on your “must see” list,” it is so beautiful. Second of all, Still Hope needs to be on your “must-see list,” and take your 12-year-olds of either gender to raise their awareness in order to protect them as well as their peers. Be at peace, there is nothing graphic and all is age-appropriate. The worst of Hope’s ordeal is implied, and proves once again that very often “less is more.” That being said, it is not an easy watch, whether you are seeing Hope before she gets rescued, or seeing Hope grapple with what seems like the unfair challenge to embrace forgiveness as the way toward true freedom and release from her captor’s grip. However, the quality of the film is wonderful, and well worth the angst before the resolution.
What was thankfully missing throughout the evening was the inflated egos one would normally expect in an event like this. The love, humor, and camaraderie amongst all those involved in producing Still Hope was refreshing, but as much as I love to have love leading the way in the arts, this flick ain’t cheesy; nor should it be. The grit and physicality displayed, particularly on the parts of Luna Rivera who plays Hope Creighton, the young woman who gets abducted, trafficked, and restored, along with Alex Veadov who plays Bishop the Bad Guy Trafficker, definitely gave one pause. I would imagine that Luna at times was exhausted from the physical and emotional expenditure of energy it took to beautifully portray her character’s story. I know from having talked with Alex at the event that being so convincing as a bad guy had been emotionally hard on him, which leads me to the “point of this Point.”
Still Hope is a call to action, to be sure, for anyone on the planet currently drawing breath. However, there is a specific call upon men that Kathrine Lee, the co-founder of Pure Hope Foundation/ Ranch (where it all happened in real life) calls “the hero’s heart.” Simply put, the “hero’s heart” is that thing that God placed in men long ago that is just hard-wired to defend, rescue, and protect. And in an era when it has become far too convenient to vilify those who have a rich, God-given level of testosterone running through their bodies, I know in my heart that men are the ones who will ultimately put an end to this heinousness. So, here’s to the men who will do just that. You know who you are, and if you don’t yet, when you do, please step up and answer the call. You won’t have to go it alone, you, will have a band of brothers, and remember, “Hope” is waiting…
