Man of Providence

 

“Man of Providence”

A Review of Young Washington by Nick Olszyk

 

Distribution Service: Theatrical

FCC Rating, PG-13

OSV Rating, Not rated at the time of this review

Reel Rating, Four Reels                 

 

            As the United States celebrates its 250^th anniversary, it’s somewhat surprising that Young Washington is the only theatrical film cashing in on the event. Nonetheless, it’s a great birthday present, successfully portraying the early life of our founding father in a compelling but not overly hagiographical manner. The picture is a perfect July outing for everyone but especially young boys looking to connect with their political ancestors.

            George Washington (William Franklyn-Miller) was born just on the edge of privilege. His father was a somewhat successful landowner, but his premature death when Washington was only twelve threw his situation into disarray. His widowed mother could no longer afford to send her son to school or a good military academy. Instead, the lad spent his early teens working the farm and desperately borrowing books from his neighbors to quench his thirst for knowledge. He finally got his shot as a surveyor in the new Ohio territory. While mapping the forest, he came across a French fort deep in British land. Due to his knowledge of the area, he is given a small position in the British army, leading a meager team of his fellow colonials to “ask them to leave.” Thus begins the unlikely career of the father of our nation.

            Early in the film, Washington is told that “failure is the greatest teacher,” and she becomes his main tutor. He fails at nearly everything he attempts. He is denied a royal commission because he is an American despite his qualifications. His attempts to court a young aristocrat are undermined despite their mutual love. The French refuse to leave, and when he attacks, he loses terribly. Even the final battle at the end of the picture is a loss. Yet, his bravery is so remarkable (including four bullet holes in his uniform), he becomes a legend. He is wrecked, thinking his life is meaningless despite all his efforts, but his wise mother says that it is all “Providence.” She’s right. For example, he notices that the Native Americans and French hide behind trees for surprise attacks rather than forming an orderly line like the British, a tactic he would use to great effect against his former employer decades later. As my wife frequently reminds me, “just because you don’t know where you are going doesn’t mean you aren’t going somewhere.” God is shaping him slowly, deliberately, so when he does win, it will count.

            The one quality that shines mostly brightly in Washington is his great character. Because he was deprived of so much, he had to earn his place in society, which gave him humility and respect for the good things he would eventually get. He always chose the right path, even if it meant less for him. He respected all, and people respected him in return. As a leader, he always fought and worked with his men rather than above them. As Pope Francis was fond of saying, shepherds should “smell like their sheep.”

            This is not the first major theatrical hit for the fledgling Angel Studios, but it continues to cement its status as one of the premiere Christian media companies. Like PureFlix, it has learned the lesson that effective cinematic evangelization must 1) be of great artistic quality and 2) need not be explicitly Christian in every aspect to promote a Christian worldview. Every aspect of Young Washinton is good, but the cinematography was especially impressive. In a time when Hollywood is leaning more on CGI backgrounds and AI details, it was refreshing to see stunning real landscapes and vistas largely untouched by man. The film also never preaches Christian doctrine, but God is in the DNA of the characters from prayers at important moments or common expressions involving “Providence” or “the Lord’s will.”

            Young Washington premiered the same weekend as the DCU’s Supergirl, and made more money despite having a budget 1/6^th its superhero rival. Quite a few critics have made this into a David and Goliath story or even a cultural turning point, but I think our first president would be proud of the film on its own merits. It’s a great biopic, especially as an inspiration for young boys saturated in digital mediocrity, and hopefully there will not only be a sequel but more stories in this vein. 

This article first appeared in Catholic World Report on July 20th, 2026.