Sorted Magazine

Category: Film

  • Brits binge-watch The Chosen on big tellies

    Three friends, two vicars and a musician have encouraged me to watch the historical drama, The Chosen. What’s the buzz about? Why is The Chosen one of the most-watched shows in the world? Why is it consistently a top-performer across streaming platforms Amazon Prime, Peacock and Netflix and a top-rated broadcast weekly on The CW? Why have episodes drawn 770 million views? How has it grown from a crowdfunded project into one of the most popular series in the world? And why does The Chosen have over twelve million followers across social platforms?

    Over the course of its first three seasons, the series garnered praise from critics and fans alike for its historical and biblical accuracy, playful spirit, stirring drama, genuine humour, and disruptive impact. And I understand that ambitious plans are afoot to translate The Chosen into over 600 languages which could potentially make it the most translated series in the world. I needed to find out what everyone was talking about and, after a faltering start, began watching Season One in earnest. A trusted friend had confided that she had found it to be a slow burn to start with, that I should “stick with it”, that the pace would “pick up” and it would be “well worth the wait”.

    My friend was correct on all counts. Against everything I’d learned on screenwriting courses, with The Chosen Season One, there was no cutting to the chase. Because The Chosen is an ongoing series, rather than a one-off movie, the writers have had an abundance of screen time to work with. They have used this extra time to develop and build the storyline and unpack the backstories of some of the characters involved. In that respect, and in many other respects, The Chosen is unlike any other dramatization about Jesus’ life I have ever seen.

    I confess to experiencing feelings of impatience and frustration just waiting for the story to unfold, waiting for familiar historical events to “kick off”. During this adjustment of sitting patiently and slowing down to the pace of the story I realised that perhaps I was feeling, in a very small way, something of what the Israelites must have felt waiting and waiting and waiting for their promised Messiah to arrive. Waiting was what they knew well. And by the end of Season One’s third episode I began to feel a connection to them which I had never previously experienced. I began to relate to them a little better, to understand a little more of the slower times into which Jesus was born.

    After watching a few episodes of Season One I settled comfortably into the familiar rhythm of play. And so, it seemed to me, had the cast. The actors themselves seemed more at home. Easier in their own skins, easier about working together, easier with the dusty ancient world they were inhabiting. I observed my own mild irritation at what seemed like petty squabbles and one-up-man ship along with a growing realisation that these ancient people were probably no different to the rest of us. Sometimes they’d get caught up in the pushing and shoving between families, communities and colleagues which is common to everyone across the panorama of human existence.

    Why is The Chosen series off the scale in its creative risk taking? Why has the producer, director and writer, Dallas Jenkins (pictured above) boldly gone where no man has gone before? His vision to create a detailed and lengthy dramatization of the gospel accounts holds the potential to upend the understanding of the millions of people who feel they already know them well. People who hold them dear. Sacred even. Jenkins and his creative team have certainly shaken up something which is familiar, but many viewers seem to find this refreshing!

    I may have to accept that while watching The Chosen I’m seeing an imagined Middle Eastern world through the lens of contemporary western culture and mindsets. Nevertheless I believe that the writers and producers have done their homework and have succeeded in creating rich, relatable human story lines which form the framework for each episode. Issues I had never previously considered have presented themselves to me. Unresolved questions have been, at least partially, resolved. Especially in relation to the recording of the gospel accounts. As something of a frantic scribbler myself it’s been interesting and reassuring to witness Matthew (Paras Patel, pictured above) dutifully scribbling away like a court reporter, recording events and statements as they unfold in real time. Watching The Chosen has been like seeing a complex tapestry appear stitch, by surprising stitch, until eventually I was able to make out something familiar.

    Season Two shifts up a gear as the narrative gathers momentum and the disciples interact with Jesus more and more. And it has to be said, the acting is simply superb. Some scenes were performed with such intensity they gave me the shivers. The actor, Jonathan Roumie (pictured above; far right) consistently portrays a magnetic and masterful Jesus. Disclosure: As someone who aims to follow Jesus, from his first moment on screen, I felt I sort of knew him before I knew him, and yet wanted to know him all over again. Here was a Jesus I could recognise and relate to. What a joy to see Jesus dancing, running and splashing. To see his kindness towards his Mother Mary (pictured next to Jesus above).

    Season Three races along and delivers yet more surprises. I’ve been particularly intrigued by the Roman officer, Gaius, believably played by the seasoned actor Kirk Woller (pictured above left). Gaius, a powerful man, is essentially “the enemy” but Woller somehow injects him with a rare combination of don’t-mess-with-me strength, curiosity and softness. Sorted Magazine’s Andy Godfrey recently interviewed Kirk Woller and, as Digital Editor, I had the privilege of eavesdropping on their zoom conversation. He came across as a sensitive and compassionate man and perhaps these characteristics are somehow shining through on the screen.

    Gaius is not recorded by name in any of the gospel accounts. He’s a compilation of characters. Perhaps this is why I find him to be the most unpredictable, the most mysterious and possibly the most conflicted of all the characters on screen. At any moment Gaius might draw his sword or fall on his knees. I’m fearing and cheering him. He is the wild card we never knew about. He’s the outlier watching from the wings. The stakes are high for him, he has much to lose. Gaius actually reminds me of some people I know and I’m eagerly standing by for the release of Season Four, hoping I will discover more of what Gaius is really about.

    To find out more please visit:

    Season 1 | The Chosen

    Season 2 | The Chosen

    Season 3 | The Chosen

    All Photo Credits: Courtesy of The Chosen

  • Faith: Jesus Film Project latest

    Digital Editor’s Note: I’m very pleased to welcome Josh Newell as a Guest Writer for Sorted Magazine. Josh brings a range of experience to the role of executive director for the Jesus Film Project. Shortly after graduating from Indiana University, he and his wife, Holly, joined staff with Campus Crusade for Christ as part of the first Jesus Film short-term recording team. Through that experience, they developed a heart for the Muslim world, and worked with Bible translation partners in the Middle East to translate new versions of the Jesus Film.

    After moving their family to serve in North Africa, the Middle East and Central Asia area, Josh began to lead the Global Church Movements (GCM) for Campus Crusade. Simultaneously, Josh helped to launch two leadership teams to more effectively serve the 30 countries in the area, then served as director of Leadership Development for North Africa and the Middle East.

    In 2013 Josh received his Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Virginia Darden School of Business, and joined Jesus Film Project as director of Marketing Communications and US Strategy. He has been the organisation’s Executive Director since 2018.

    Josh writes: It was Jesus’ love that inspired a team from Jesus Film Project to travel to a region of India from which people had previously driven out Christians. The team was there to share the love of Jesus by distributing food. As they served, one family, the Hasans, approached the team with tears in their eyes. 

    The Hasans told the team that for five years they had driven Christians away, beaten them and forced them to leave. Even so, this team of Christians came back. The family was in shock. They couldn’t believe that after everything, Christians would still return to their region and show kindness to the people who had driven them away. 

    The Hasans invited the team to their home. Once there, the team used a video tablet to show the 1979 Jesus Film in the family’s heart language. God moved in their hearts, and the Hasans prayed to receive Christ that day. 

    But the story doesn’t end there. The Hasans used their influence among their people to help show the film in seven other locations, sparking a movement throughout the community. What I love about this story is how it shows the extraordinary power of the love of Christ. His is a love so potent that it spills over, even in dangerous situations. 

    The truth is Jesus loved the Hasan family and their people group long before that team of believers approached them. That’s the amazing thing about our God, He reaches out first. He pursues not just the people who are looking for Him or those who “fit the mold” of Christianity. He reaches out to everyone, everywhere, regardless of their history or their distance from Him. He loves us all, regardless of age or status, or where we live in the world. 

    While we might not all necessarily share the gospel with groups that could beat or chase us away, we do have the opportunity to do so with our neighbours and friends. Sharing the story of Jesus with those closest to us can still be intimidating. To those concerns, I say trust in the strength of Jesus’ love, and let it guide your words as you share the gospel. 

    Here at the Jesus Film Project, we equip believers to tell the life-changing story of Jesus in the heart languages of people everywhere. That’s why we’ve translated our 1979 Jesus Film into more than 2,100 languages. By God’s grace, and with the help of our partners, today we create films and resources in many languages and provide equipment to help tell the story of Jesus in the most remote areas of the world. Everyone, everywhere should have access to the transformative story of Jesus. 

    Through the Jesus Film Project’s library of films and resources, more than 600 million people around the world have become followers of Jesus. With numbers like that, it’s easy to overlook the individual lives represented, but every person has a story like the Hasans, a story of Jesus’ love reaching out despite the odds. 

    As Christians, we have a responsibility to share Christ’s love with the world, and this month I’ve felt that so strongly. With the upcoming release of our newest animated feature film, Jesus (coming 2025), my hope and prayer is that through this film, more people will encounter Jesus’ love, a love powerful enough to reach even the furthest hearts. 

    All Photo Credits: Courtesy of the Jesus Film Project

  • The Great Escape

    The movie The Great Escape is always featured on television during Christmas. That classic film about the Second World War is enjoyed by even those who dislike war films. 2023 will mark 60 years since it was released and, rather surprisingly, it’s become a seasonal classic.

    In case you’re one of the people who’ve never seen it, The Great Escape is a fictionalised account of the mass breakout from the Stalag Luft III prison camp, which, spoiler alert, largely failed. Nevertheless, it’s an engrossing film with some great actors, including the dominating performance of Steve McQueen and his motorbike. It is also a reminder of the days when stunts were achieved by real people in the real world rather than by pixels in computers, and when war’s butchery was hinted at rather than depicted in every detail. I remember first seeing it 50 years ago as a teenager and it left a deep impression on me.

    Why, though, for all its achievements, has The Great Escape, which barely mentions Christmas, become such a seasonal favourite? Oddities like this intrigue me because they often highlight what people are thinking. My take is that the idea of a prison-break connects at a deep level with everybody, for the simple reason that many, perhaps most, of us feel trapped in different ways. Perhaps we are stuck in the same dull job, perhaps we see life slipping past as we go nowhere.

    I think this sense of being trapped, imprisoned, is made worse in our time because the world itself is becoming increasingly closed. A hundred years ago or more it was possible, at least in theory, to start a new life: to sail to Australia and a new beginning, to vanish without trace or take a boat to some blank space on a map in South America. But the world itself is no longer big enough to escape into. The white spaces on the maps have long been filled, opportunities fenced in by bureaucracy, and with a mobile phone you are never alone. There is, too, a sense of cultural claustrophobia where our digital world often seems to know more about us than we do. There are other forms of being trapped: some people feel trapped in their own bodies, some imprisoned by their own psychology, still others held hostage by their past. And all of us are prisoners bound by time, ageing and death. It’s a disturbing thought that The Great Escape is indeed 60 years old and that death has now claimed all the twelve lead actors. Outside any sort of faith, existence is a prison camp from which no one escapes alive.

    In reality, I think the sense of being trapped and needing our own great escape goes deeper than any psychological claustrophobia. The philosophy of our age not only offers no jail-break but indeed screams that there is none. Life, we are told, is an escape room with no exit, a snakes-and-ladders board with serpents on every other square and a cell with no tunnel out to the free world.

    One problem with this sense of being trapped is that often people seek an escape but choose a disastrous escape route. They assume a second marriage will solve the problems of the first, a new job will relieve the tedium of the old, a new home away from the hustle and bustle of the big city will bring calm.

    The good news is that Christmas is about the big escape, not from the family and relatives! It’s the idea at the very heart of Christmas, that in Jesus, God was entering his own world with the intention of rescuing us. God has not just spoken but has acted. In a way inevitably beyond understanding, the infinite and the eternal somehow became one of us – entering our existence to the point of being human. And he did it not simply to show solidarity or to learn what we endure, but to be one of us and lead us out.

    In the introduction to John’s gospel we get some profound thinking about what the nativity means. The eternal Word, God himself, becomes one of us; the infinite takes on flesh and heavenly light comes into earthly darkness. The closed system is broken open. We are promised that there’s even an escape beyond the impregnable walls of death. Jesus, dying in order to destroy death, doesn’t burrow his way out of the prison camp through a tunnel, but strolls out from the open tomb.

    For the believer in Christ, Christmas points the way to our own escape from all that binds and entraps us. Jesus offers us the greatest of escapes into freedom, friendship with God and a future. Let’s take it!

    Main Photo Credit: Nathan Engel via Unsplash

  • It’s a Wonderful Life

    Digital Editor’s Note: Christmas at the Movies is a close-up view of ten of J.John’s favourite Christmas movies and his festive reflections on them. Each chapter in this new book brings a fresh perspective, covering topics such as family relationships, living with regret, the pressures of the ‘perfect Christmas’, and the true reason for the season. Today’s post is an extract from the book.

    J. John writes: It’s a Wonderful Life follows the life of George Bailey, born and raised in the typical American small town of Bedford Falls. But he is someone with ambition and imagination who wants to escape, to travel and to achieve something. Those dreams, however, never materialise. George’s commitment to his family and, above all, to his community, means that he spends decades stuck in the town without the obvious visible achievements that his friends and family acquire. He is a man whose selfless willingness to do little things for others has prevented him from doing big things for himself.

    One Christmas Eve George’s frustration comes to a head with a financial crisis that threatens to send him to prison. In a fit of angry despair, he goes out to commit suicide. At this point his guardian angel intervenes and, in a nightmarish vision, shows him what his community and those he loves would have been like if he hadn’t existed. In the face of this revelation George realises that his life has indeed been wonderful.

    There is much to think about in It’s a Wonderful Life but perhaps its biggest lesson lies in how we evaluate what we have done. Society has always celebrated the visible attainments of wealth, power and fame but never more so than today. We are all inclined to measure ourselves by our number of friends (real or virtual), our job title, our bank balance or the size of our house. God, however, operates on a very different basis and so should we.

    Looking back this Christmas you may, like George Bailey, reflect on your life and think that actually you haven’t done very much. That may very well be you assessing things by the wrong standards. It’s worth remembering that what God values most of all is faithfulness, kindness, generosity and obedience. Let’s be more focused on what we can do for others and less on what we can get for ourselves. The lesson of It’s a Wonderful Life is that it’s not what you achieve or have that counts, but it’s who you are.

    J.John’s new book is available here.

    Main Photo Credit: Courtesy of Philo Trust

  • The Chosen Season Four: In UK Cinemas from February 1, 2024

    For the first time ever, the full season of a streaming TV show will be released exclusively in cinemas, distributed by Fathom Events in the US. The Chosen, the groundbreaking historical drama that has become one of the most-watched shows in the world, announced its Season Four theatrical release plan to more than 3,500 avid fans on Sunday night in Dallas, Texas at The Chosen Insiders Conference.

    Watch The Chosen: Season 4 Teaser Trailer Here

    In the UK, fans will have the chance to watch the first episodes of Season Four in cinemas across the UK and Ireland. There will also be a global red carpet event in London where press from across Europe will be able to attend.

    The Chosen’s Creator and Director, Dallas Jenkins said: “Every time we’ve dipped our toes in the theatrical waters, viewers have overwhelmingly told us they want more. After seeing the Season Four episodes, we knew we’d be doing our fans a disservice if we denied them the chance to see them all on a big screen with others they can laugh and cry with.”

    The Chosen has become a cultural phenomenon with impressive performance across streaming platforms such as Amazon Prime, Netflix, and Peacock, and top ratings weekly in the US on The CW Freeview channel. What began as a pioneering crowd-funded project has now evolved into a global sensation with more than ten million social media followers. Due to the efforts of the Come and See Foundation, The Chosen is on pace to be the most translated series in history, as the first three seasons will soon be available in 50 languages with plans to subtitle in more than 600.

    The Chosen is a testament to the power of independent production, with Dallas Jenkins serving as writer, director, and producer. Lionsgate is the show’s global television distributor. 

    Main Phot Credit: Courtesy of Kova PR

  • Bank of Dave: Standing between the powerful and the powerless

    Bank of Dave: Standing between the powerful and the powerless

    The tiny Gardeners’ Cottage boasted a very comfortable king size bed, a massive walk in shower and generous home made scones with lashings of jam and cream. However, the TV in the corner of the lounge, was about the size of a postage stamp. This crushing disappointment was nicely off set by the discovery that access to Netflix was included in the cost of the accommodation. Twenty minutes of head scratching and a fairly intense scrolling session followed.

    Given an unlimited choice, selecting a film can be a lengthy random exercise. Have we heard of it? Have we heard of anybody in it? How many stars does it have? How many people have rated it? What rating did it get? And an important but heavily biased question, is it British? And of course the ruthless fifteen minute rule applies. With very few exceptions, if we don’t get drawn into the plot line within the first fifteen minutes the selection process reluctantly restarts.

    When I watch a film I want to like the characters. I want to care about the characters and what happens to them. If possible, I want to relate to the characters. I want them to be real and convincing. These requirements can sometimes limit my ability to sit all the way through to the end of a film. After all, why would I spend my Friday evening with folks I don’t even like? These lengthy deliberations finally resulted in a unanimous decision to settle down with the heart warming British comedy Bank of Dave.

    Bank of Dave is based on the true story of Dave Fishwick, a businessman who takes on London’s elite bankers. Full disclosure: Bank of Dave is set in the northern town of Burnley. I’m familiar with this part of the world and visit there frequently as some of my nearest and dearest live there. With my northern bias fully ramped up, and my interest piqued, I was raring to go and open to liking the characters in Bank of Dave from the very beginning. In fact, I liked nearly all the characters, plus extra bonus points, I cared about what happened to them too.

    Hugh Bonneville pulled off the role of the deliciously detestable villain, Sir Charles, in perhaps his poshest part ever.

    It took me about three seconds to get used to seeing Rory Kinnear playing the northerner Dave Fishwick, but I was soon rooting for him all the way. Was I rooting for him because I too am a northerner? Maybe a little bit, but mostly I was rooting for his character because he’s the archetypal good guy in the archetypal battle between good and evil. He’s a modern day Robin Hood, a David taking shots at Goliath. He’s a working class bloke taking on the London establishment, and northerners are always up for watching that kind of sport especially if there’s the faintest chance we might actually win.

    It was fun trying to spot familiar places in Burnley, even though I understand that much of the filming actually took place in Leeds and Bradford. Hey ho. The friendliness and warmth of the north was portrayed to my complete satisfaction. I was also drawn into another satisfying sub-plot. Two of the supporting characters engage in a gentle will-they-won’t-they romance story. This is a welcome non-banking related distraction which trundles along at a pleasing pace throughout the movie.

    Bank of Dave is an easy watch. It highlights that much lamented north south divide, the need for outlaws who will stand between the powerful and the powerless, while reminding us that greed is bad and kindness and generosity are good. You can’t really argue with that can you?

    Bank of Dave is available on Netflix and DVD.

    All Photo Credits: Courtesy of hughbonneville.uk

  • Film: Jesus Revolution movie is a box office hit

    Film: Jesus Revolution movie is a box office hit

    The faith film Jesus Revolution, distributed by Kova International in 157 cinemas across the UK and Ireland, has reached over £100,000 in its first week. Making £56,243 on opening weekend (23rd-25th June), this film has nearly doubled its revenue since then, with church groups selling out cinema screens at weekday showings.

    While headlines often tell us that the Church in the UK and Ireland is in decline, this clearly tells a different story. The Church is engaged and interested in good faith content and there is a demand for it in mainstream cinema. The KOVA team have been inundated with requests for new locations, group bookings and permission to share and publicise local screenings. 

    All Photos: Courtesy of the Jesus Revolution Movie

  • Film: Sir Cliff Richard says “don’t miss” Jesus Revolution movie

    A British PR company run by Christians has bought the rights to the hit film Jesus Revolution. It is being released into UK and Irish cinemas from June 23rd and is highly anticipated. This film tells the story of revival in California in the 1970s and the key message is that church is for everyone. A spokesperson for Kova PR explained to Sorted Magazine: “We would love to see people far and wide hearing about the film’s powerful message and how the real story impacted our faith and worship music to this day.”

    “The UK church (in all its denominations and expressions) needs to get behind this message. When released in America, Jesus Revolution doubled box office estimates. We need to show cinemas here that there is demand for faith films in mainstream cinema. Getting faith films into UK cinemas is an uphill battle. We need your prayers that God would open doors by His power and for His glory. There are loads of options, from showing the trailer in your churches, to attending a key leader screening, to ticket giveaways and discount bookings and sharing on your social media. We can help, get in touch!” The UK website jesusrevolutionmovie.co.uk will be taking group bookings very soon.

    Sir Cliff Richard has thrilled his fans with a special facebook video announcement about Jesus Revolution. He said: “Don’t miss it!” Since posting there have been thousands of likes from his 300K strong Facebook following. Watch Sir Cliff’s video here

  • Faith: How the former wife of Stephen Hawking emerged from the shadows of her past.

    Faith: How the former wife of Stephen Hawking emerged from the shadows of her past.

    Dr Jane Helyer Jones is an accomplished writer and novelist, she is also Jane Hawking, the former wife of Stephen Hawking. She’s the author of the best selling book Travelling to Infinity, which is the true story behind the famous motion picture film The Theory of Everything.

    The film tells the story of Jane’s early life with her husband, Professor Stephen Hawking, who is possibly the world’s best known scientist and the world’s best known sufferer of motor neurone disease. Stephen is played by Eddie Redmayne and Jane is played by Felicity Jones. Jane told the BBC, “Felicity’s performance was phenomenal. When I saw her on the screen I was flabbergasted because she captured my mannerisms, my movements, my patterns of speech even.” It is a stunning performance and Felicity Jones somehow portrays the complex bitter sweet nature of Jane’s life.

    Just as in real life it’s a beautiful love story and Jane is clearly devoted to Stephen. But as Stephen’s disability worsens she becomes his carer. His fame and career place more and more demands upon her and she struggles with the physical and emotional effort of this work alongside the job of caring for their young family.

    Jane told Christian Connection, “Faith was my rock and my blessing because I believed that there was help and support for me in all the challenges I faced and that things would resolve themselves eventually.”

    In another interview she said: “I felt I needed the rock of my faith to do what might be expected of me, I was very dependent on my faith to help me through. I thought there must be a loving God acting in his (Stephen’s) life otherwise he might not have been gifted with the brain of a genius which enabled him to do the science that he could do. He couldn’t walk, he was having difficulty talking, he couldn’t write. All he could do was think, but he could think in such an extraordinary way, in a way not given to many people, to himself and [Albert] Einstein perhaps, but not many others. And that seemed to me to be the most extraordinary gift.”

    In 2018 Jane told Readers Digest: “One day I asked him (Stephen) ‘How do you decide on a theory?’. He said, ‘Well you have to look at all the possibilities in various areas of research and decide what you’re interested in. Then you decide which area of research is most likely to give you the positive result. So you choose your theory, your area of interest, and then you have to take a leap of faith.’ I said, ‘What? What’s the difference between taking a leap of faith in physics and other people taking a leap of faith in religion?’ He laughed.”

    Jane describes her parents as ‘darlings’ and says her Christian faith has helped her persevere, “I think my parents were rather taken aback, but they were very supportive of me when I married Stephen, and my mum, Beryl, encouraged me to keep faith as the way forward”.

    Her first novel Silent Music was published by Alma Books in 2016. It tells the story of a child growing up in an unhappy family in London after the Second World War. The title of the series is The Immortal Souls. This stems from Jane’s belief that “everybody has a spark of spirituality and the divine inside them, and that circumstances often combine to prevent that spark from blossoming”.

    “I saw Stephen’s spark blossom and my own is blossoming now in so many ways. I have my wonderful children and I’m doing all the things I want to do, especially my writing. I’ve been down a long winding path to reach that ultimate fulfilment but I think I’ve found it now.”

    Jane is a strong, inspirational woman who has emerged from the shadows of her past and found a new life for herself. She’s found meaningful creative work. She’s found a special love with her husband Jonathon Jones Helyer, together they share a strong faith and a deep love of music. Her life has a happy ending. She said: “Life goes on doesn’t it? One year succeeds another and you concentrate on all the really wonderful things.”

    Interview credits: Readers Digest, The National, Christian Connection, BBC Woman’s Hour.

  • Review: A Beautiful Day in the Neighbourhood with Tom Hanks

    Review: A Beautiful Day in the Neighbourhood with Tom Hanks

    When I lived in the USA, Fred Rogers had his own children’s’ show on American television. In the popular programme Rogers sort of played himself – he is Mr Rogers. The show usually opened with him arriving ‘home’ and singing his trademark opening song “A beautiful day in the neighbourhood” before speaking directly to camera and asking “won’t you be my neighbour?”.

    I confess to enjoying this background hum of gentle activity on day time television. The pace was slow, the themes authentic. Though the years have passed, as I began watching Tom Hanks portray Rogers, I admit to harbouring my own pre-conceived ideas about the storyline. Nearly all of them were wrong.

    I was delighted to discover that this film is as much about Fred Rogers as it is about the journalist, Lloyd Vogel, (played by Matthew Rhys) who interviews Rogers at length over the course of several months. I relish films which reveal the internal struggles of writers. Especially ‘tortured’ writers, of which Vogel is definitely one. His character is based on real life journalist, Tom Junod, who wrote the 1998 article “Can you say … Hero?” published in Esquire.

    During one interview there was an intense, pivotal moment when Vogel, an angry troubled soul, challenges Rogers about the success of his role as a father. Clearly wounded and outraged by this probing, deeply personal question, Rogers squares up to this intentional nastiness with a glaring, lip pursing silence, before delivering a thoughtful gracious response. In this particular scene, I found veteran actor Hanks, mesmerising in his depiction of a man choosing to process and control his raw anger before speaking out or taking action which might hurt another person.

    Whether or not you’re familiar with the work of Fred Rogers, A Beautiful Day in the Neighbourhood, delivers a heart-warming story in which kindness overcomes cruelty.