- Content: Luke Smallbone Explains Why Struggles are Necessary: ‘Better For It’
By Movieguide® Contributor
For KING + COUNTRY’s Luke Smallbone recently shared on Sadie Robertson Huff’s “WHOA That’s Good” podcast about how he hopes UNSUNG HERO impacts his kids.
The movie explores the struggles the Smallbone family faced when they moved from Australia to the United States in the ’90s. It doesn’t shy away from the hard parts of their dad’s story and explores “why we should all trust God to redeem our stories, no matter what we’ve experienced or gone through.”
Smallbone hopes the movie encourages his kids when they face hard times.
“Our kids are going to have their own set of struggles. And just because we went through something that looked like coming to a different country and it being very, very difficult, they’re going to have their own journey,” he said on the podcast. “And in some cases, they’re better for it. People need to go through hard times because hard times produce something.”
He referenced Romans 5:3-5, which says:
Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.
“And so usually the people that you like to spend time with are ones that have actually been through a little bit of fire,” Smallbone continued.
Over its opening weekend, UNSUNG HERO grossed over $7.7 million worldwide.
Part of Movieguide®’s review reads:
UNSUNG HERO is a true story about a Christian family from Australia’s struggles to survive and thrive in the rough and tumble music business while trying to serve God. When the father, David Smallbone, loses big on promoting an unsuccessful tour, he thinks relocating the family to Nashville may be their best route forward. Odd jobs and a local church keep the family afloat while David seeks work in the music industry. David’s father, wife Helen and others tell him he should focus on the musical talent living under his own roof. The family’s prospects rise when he takes that advice to heart. Can focusing on God and family lead them to the new life they seek?
UNSUNG HERO is a powerful, compelling story of faith and family, told with lots of sincerity and heart. The acting and writing is very good and convincing. UNSUNG HERO has a strong Christian, biblical worldview. The family’s Christian faith is not only clear from their repeated prayers to Jesus to guide and provide for them, but also from their infectious enthusiasm and spiritually uplifting song lyrics.
“Let’s make mums?, miracles✨, and family???? the #1 conversation in North America this weekend, shall we?!! ??” for KING + COUNTRY posted.
Many fans shared how the movie impacted them.
“Three generations of Moms saw the movie together tonight! What a gift to see it with my 91-year-old Mom and my amazing daughter, a Mom to two little ones. We have been waiting for tonight for so long, and it was so worth the wait! Thank you for sharing the story of your family’s journey with the world. ‘If you want to change the world, go home and love your family.’ -Mother Teresa,” one follower commented.
“Yes! Saw it today. I cried so many times. Love it when God shows up and shows out,” another user wrote.
Movieguide® previously reported on UNSUNG HERO:
For KING + COUNTRY’s Joel Smallbone is opening up about what it was like to play his father in his new movie UNSUNG HERO.
“This movie is obviously the definition of a passion project for me, as you would imagine,” Smallbone shared during an episode of “The Drive-In Podcast.” “It’s my parents’ origin story, it’s a 90s film, it’s music, it’s moms, it’s miracles, it’s all of it.”
In addition to starring in UNSUNG HERO, Smallbone was also the movie’s co-director and co-writer.
UNSUNG HERO tells the story of Smallbone’s family’s journey to America from Australia and how they built a new life for themselves. Playing his father in this retelling of his own life gave Smallbone a new appreciation for what his dad was feeling at the time.
“So much of us, as men, are sort of a mirror of our dads, and so the more awareness we have of our father and understanding of our father, I think the more awareness we have of ourselves, so it’s given me great empathy for him and great insight for me,” he explained.
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