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RUNNING FOR GRACE

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What You Need To Know:

RUNNING FOR GRACE opens in 1919 in Hawaii. A new doctor, Dr. Lawrence, makes an orphaned half-white, half-Japanese boy named Jo his assistant. Ten years later, Jo has turned into a handsome young man. Also, he and the plantation owner’s daughter, Grace, have fallen in love. Grace’s father hires a doctor named Reyes. Eventually, Dr. Reyes asks him for Grace’s hand in marriage. It’s clear he’s seeking her father’s fortune but doesn’t know Grace’s father is bankrupt. Will Dr. Reyes marry Grace or will Jo?

RUNNING FOR GRACE is a beautiful portrait of Hawaii. David Cunningham does a great job directing the cast. Ryan Potter as Jo makes a great hero, and Jim Caviezel as Dr. Reyes makes a great villain. The script contains some structural flaws. For example, the real villain enters halfway into the movie. These flaws aren’t as serious as they usually would be, however, because the scenery and the setting’s historical significance are so powerful. RUNNING FOR GRACE is worth watching, both as a historical drama and as a morality tale refuting racism by the Grace of God.

Content:

(CC, BB, L, V, A, M):

Dominant Worldview and Other Worldview Content/Elements:
Strong Christian worldview with a strong refutation of racism;

Foul Language:
One light obscenity and no profanities;

Violence:
Threats of violence, one man is slugged, a man tries to commit suicide, sicknesses and diseases, and bad medical treatment, which claims lives;

Sex:
No sex but some light kissing;

Nudity:
No nudity;

Alcohol Use:
Alcohol use to the point of inebriation but not drunkenness;

Smoking and/or Drug Use and Abuse:
Medical drugs; and,

Miscellaneous Immorality:
Condemnation of so-called “half breed”, fraudulent doctor, lying, bankruptcy.

More Detail:

RUNNING FOR GRACE opens during a severe flu epidemic in Hawaii in 1919. The Japanese workers are suffering the most. A little half-breed boy discovers his Japanese mother, who’s been hiding out, is dead. He follows the cart carrying her body down to the town. At the same time, a little girl named Grace Danielson, the plantation owner’s daughter, discovers her mother is dead from the flu. When these two little children see each other, they are smitten with one another.

The new local doctor, Dr. Lawrence (played by Matt Dillon), sees Jo, the little Japanese half-breed, being abused. He decides to take him under his wing and make him his assistant.

Ten years later, Jo has turned into a handsome young man and Grace into a beautiful young woman. When Grace sprains her ankle, Dr. Lawrence is out of town, so Jo treats her. When Mr. Danielson finds out, he’s furious. Danielson is having his own problems. His plantation is bankrupt. When he goes to the main town, he brings back Dr. Reyes, played by Jim Caviezel, whom he says is a real doctor. Reyes, whose first wife died, takes an interest in Grace, but Grace loves Jo. Dr. Lawrence is trying to adopt Jo even after all these years, but Jo’s mixed-race status has prevented that from happening.

Dr. Reyes asks Danielson for Grace’s hand in marriage, and it’s clear he’s seeking Danielson’s plantation and fortune but doesn’t know Danielson is bankrupt. When Dr. Reyes is called to take care of the Japanese foreman on Danielson’s plantation, it’s clear he’s not the doctor he says he is, and it’s clear that Lawrence and even Jo have more medical knowledge.

Will Dr. Reyes marry Grace or will Jo? And, will the intrinsic racism in Hawaiian society be overcome by God’s grace?

RUNNING FOR GRACE is a beautiful portrait of Hawaii. David Cunningham does a great job directing the cast. Ryan Potter as Jo makes a great hero, and Jim Caviezel as Dr. Reyes makes a great villain. The script contains some structural flaws, such as the Page 17 plot point occurs on Page 31, and the real villain enters halfway into the movie. However, these flaws aren’t as serious in this movie as they usually would be, because the scenery and historical significance of the setting are so powerful. RUNNING FOR GRACE is worth watching, both as a historical drama and as a morality tale refuting racism by the Grace of God.

Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.

What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.

You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.

Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.


Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.

What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.

You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.

Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.


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