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Home Subscribe About Us Features News Album Reviews Movie Reviews Past Movies Movie Resources Concert Reviews Book Reviews Top 10 Contact Us	Love’s Unfolding Dream (DVD) Stars: Erin Cottrell, Dale Midkiff, Robert Pine, Scout Taylor-Compton, Patrick Lewis, Victor Browne, Nancy Linehan Charles and Richard Herd Director: Harvey Frost Scriptwriters: Michael Landon, Jr. and Cynthia Kelley (based on the book by Janette Oke) Music: Stephen Graziano Cinematography: Brian Shanley 20th Century Fox Faith/RHI Entertainment Not Rated (but could be PG for a scene of a badly diseased leg and simulated amputation) Running Length: 88 minutes www.foxfaith.com Becoming a medical doctor was an unheard of profession in the 19th century. Women could be nurses, and on rare occasions, a medical doctor’s assistant, but that was it. Elizabeth Blackwell became the first official woman doctor and blazed the trail for women to follow her. This is the premise behind Janette Oke’s inspirational novel, Love’s Unfolding Dream, which is set in the American West, small ranching community and with one, lone male doctor. The story begins with Belinda (Scout Taylor-Compton), who came to the west on an Orphan Train and was adopted by Missie (Erin Cottrell) and her sheriff husband (Victor Browne). Belinda wants to become a doctor and is pestering the town’s doctor (Robert Pine) to be his assistant. He admits she has talent, but women “just don’t have what it takes.” Enter several opportunities for Belinda to prove herself, including the rehabilitation of a wealthy stroke victim from the East (Nancy Linehan Charles), assisting in a leg amputation, and helping a young abscess victim. Just as many opportunities at love present itself to Belinda when a young lawyer (Patrick Lewis) comes to town to claim an inheritance. He is smitten with the rebellious Belinda, but thinks the West is a backward place in which to live. There are side stories of Belinda’s adoptive mother befriending a woman who can’t read, and Belinda’s grandfather (Dale Midkiff) befriending the lawyer. If “Little House on the Prairie” were still on television, this could be another episode. This Fox Faith production is quality with good soundtrack by Stephen Graziano and cinematography by Brian Shanley. The West comes alive again. Acting is good, especially Scout Taylor-Compton’s interpretation of Belinda. Here is a girl who is both stubborn and caring at the same time. Patrick Lewis, as the young attorney, seems out-of-place in the film. A part of the story that I hoped to see developed and wasn’t, is the story of the woman who couldn’t read and her husband who didn’t want her to read. It’s explained that her former husband is in jail, but soon to get out and would come looking for her. I kept waiting, but maybe that is in another book. Humor is provided by the banter between Belinda and just about everyone she meets. Her stoic manner sometimes strikes sparks in the conversation. God is brought into the conversation by referring to prayer and seeing where God wants you to be or to go. As a family friendly film, though, I kept waiting for a family pet for Belinda to heal and that didn’t happen, nor a church service, either. What is shown is that education is for everyone from workmen to housewives to law students to medical students. Love’s Unfolding Dream does tell the story of a determined young woman to get her education despite enormous odds. How it happens is the stuff dreams are made of. You never know just who will come to town on the stage at any given time. Copyright 2008 Marie Asner Submitted 6/10/08