A Review of Sound
of Hope: The Story of Possum Trot by Olszyk
Distribution Service: Theatrical
MPAA Rating, PG-13
USCCB Rating, Not rated at the time of this review
Reel Rating, Four Reels
Rev. Martin
(Demetrius Grosse) is a good man. He is the pastor a local Baptist church in a
place so small it is technically not a city but the unincorporated township of
Possum Trot. My high school classroom fits more people than his parish.
Nonetheless, he etches out a good life for his wife and two children, including
one with a mental disability. By the measure of the world, he has succeeded in
virtue, but his wife Donna feels they are being called for much, much more.
What happens over the course of the next few years is a beautiful testament to
what can occur if you let the grace of God come into your life. You can be more
than just a “good man,” you can be a saint and improve the lives of hundreds in
the process.
The Martin
family seems to have the perfect American dream but with an appropriate amount
of Christian suffering. They occasionally fright (being a pastor’s wife is
never easy), but genuinely love each other. They have a son with serious brain
damage but also a supportive community. Yet their lives are upended when Donna
(Nika King) attends a presentation about the sorry state of the foster and
adoption system. She insists, despite her husband’s hesitation, that God is
calling them to adopt a needy child. Through trails and trust, the Martins not
only adopt several children but inspire others to do the same. By the end of
the decade, this tiny parish has adopted or fostered over seventy children.
Discernment
of the Lord’s will is often tricky, especially in the context of a marriage.
Not only are there two people involved, but they are easily distracted by
money, careers, household duties, geography, and a thousand other minutiae of
daily life. Yet the Martins do a good job navigating this route. When Donna
hears about these children, her heart is moved. She doesn’t force the idea on
her husband but lets him reflect and pray on it. They then “test the spirit” by
investigating the process and talking with Susan (Elizabeth Mitchell), the
social worker. Once convinced this is indeed the voice of the Lord, they move
forward with conviction even when things go awry. They don’t rush in but they
are also willing to see it through once committed. This is the same with any
major decision like a career or marriage. We can trust that if we are
discerning in union with the Lord he will “work for the good” in any situation.
God rarely speaks in deliberate, audible voices but often speaks through events
and people.
This
doesn’t mean the road will always be easy; in fact, the Martins becomes
convinced that, like St. Teresa of Calcutta, they want “the worst of the worst”
that no one wants. Enter Terri (Diaana Babnicova), a fifteen year old girl who
has gone through the most horrible abuse one can imagine. For starters, she
initially identifies as a cat, eschewing her wretched humanoid origins. Yet
when the Reverend offers her raw liver and sleeping outside, she quickly acquiesces.
Her violent tendencies and sexual promiscuity are much harder to quell. She
deliberately assaults the other Martin children, prostitutes herself in the
high school bathroom, and eventually runs away. The Martins aren’t willing to
compromise their safety, but they also don’t give up on her. In the film’s
final moments, Terri realizes that the Martins aren’t being fake but will
indeed fight for her no matter what; she breaks down cries an ocean of tears
from years of unspoken heartbreak. Of course, her mother and father are there
with a hug and kindly word.
Possum Trot isn’t naïve about the
challenges associated with adoption nor ignorant of its risks. There are
financial and safety considerations as well as the emotional experiences of the
biological siblings. At the same time, Christians cannot turn a blind eye to
those in need. Historically, the Church has always been a haven for unwanted
children, especially monasteries. Before CPS, it was countless unrecognized
religious and lay people who looked after these “little ones,” and our
responsibility is not negated just because the state has entered the picture.
This is not just theoretical. My own parents adopted my sister, who had unique
physical needs, from a South Korean orphanage. It was a challenge, but she now
is a thriving wife and sister who brings joy to everyone around her. If you –
dear reader – feel even the slightest inclination or vocation to this, please
pursue it.
Possum
Trot isn’t without its cinematic failures, but it has a heart made of pure
gold. Living the Christian vocation is never easy but brings a joy and peace
that the world cannot provide. The film ends with a barbeque with the real
Martin family and the dozens of adoptees from the town. Many have grown up, had
successful careers, and made families of their own. They smile, laugh, cry, and
embrace. It’s not an accident that Jesus described heaven as a banquet. This is
what it looks like.
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