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Joshua is a G rated film from Epiphany Films that is being distributed through Artisan. The film is adapted from the Joshua book series by Joseph F. Girzone that began in 1987. This film is another in the type of Christian film reaching into the mainstream market. With the help of Artisan, Epiphany Films will have a very good chance of reaching larger audiences.

The story begins as Joshua, carrying his belongings in a backpack, comes to a small town and proceeds to rent a shed as a workshop. He says he is a wood carver and does small carvings including animals and a wooden heart for his landlady. As Joshua settles into the community, he begins to irritate the head priest of the local parish (F. Murray Abraham) who, in turn, clashes with his assistant priest, Kurt Fuller. When Joshua decides something has to be done like rebuild the old Baptist church, or confront a traveling revivalist, the community must decide whether to go their own way or Joshua's way. And, by the way, just who IS Joshua?

The production values, however, are low-grade. Camera work is average with rough editing. The actors are much better than the material they are given to speak, especially Abraham, who dignifies any dialogue he is given. 

On the other hand, there are two special scenes that caught me, one is where Joshua meets a blind woman and the other is where the head priest and Joshua have a confrontation. In the latter instance, the camera wisely rests on F. Murray Abraham's face to catch his emotions and voice inflections. I think about the only serious quibble I have with this film are with Tony Goldwyn (Ghost). He has the type of face that you expect to turn into a smirk rather than a smile. Goldwyn plays Joshua as someone so laid back he is almost napping upright. Also, he has played many villains that as the star of a film with a Christian theme, he has to work twice as hard to distance himself from past roles. Joshua gets to see the Pope so fast the usual red tape is not cut, but  dissolved.

Humorous moments include the assistant priest trying to get to his service on time and forgetting to take off his fishing waders or the many people who come to the confessional, as often as every two hours, to confess minute infractions. Kurt Fuller, as the assistant priest, starts out as the comic relief, but as the film progresses, turns into someone standing up for what he believes.

All in all, G rated Joshua provides families with many topics of discussion. It's OK to help another congregation when they have problems. It's OK to befriend someone who doesn't fit into what society considers a normal pattern and it's OK to speak about your faith. Joshua has a wonderful soundtrack by Michael W. Smith with such songs as “Brave New World” by Pete Orta, “My Hope Is You” by Third Day and “Wings Of A Dove” sung by Point Of Grace.

Copyright 2002 Marie Asner
Submitted 4/28/02