A Little Prayer, 2025.
Written and Directed by Angus MacLachlan.
Starring Jane Levy, David Strathairn, Dascha Polanco, Celia Weston, Steve Coulter, Keisha Tillis, Will Pullen, Billie Roy, Ashley Shelton, David Price, Amy Marie Murphy, Justin Paitsel, Rita Glynn, Jeffrey Dean Foster, and Anna Camp.
SYNOPSIS:
A man tries to protect his daughter-in-law when he finds out that his son is having an affair.
A supporting character with minimal screen time says it best: all these people need to grow up. In writer/director Angus MacLachlan’s quietly powerful slice of Southern suburban familial life, A Little Prayer, everyone has something to learn or room to grow. For some characters, these are minor changes to make, whereas one comes across as a complete unfiltered disaster trying to do right, and another masks several forms of cruelty.
Vietnam veteran and family man Bill (a wonderfully nuanced and deeply conflicted David Strathairn) might not want to confront the reality that his alcoholic, PTSD-stricken veteran son, David (Will Pullen), isn’t a good person. For starters, he doesn’t even bother to hide that he is flirting with and most likely cheating on his partner Tammy (a mousy but knowledgeable Jane Levy) with factory co-worker Narcedalia (Dascha Polanco). He casually makes moves in front of his father and willingly chooses to work late.
Tammy and David live with Bill and his lovely, sage-like wife, Venida (Celia Weston), who runs tours of Winston-Salem. Piling onto the problems, the house becomes a bit crowded when David’s married sister Patti (Anna Camp) returns with her daughter, explaining that her drug-addicted husband is again causing problems. Following the rules of siblings in movies and life, Patti couldn’t be any different from Tammy; she has embraced motherhood and is often loud, speaking her mind even if it crosses into bluntness and vulgarity. While Tammy enjoys bonding with her niece again, the situation could cement her stance that family isn’t for her.
However, A Little Prayer is more concerned with Bill gracefully trying to figure out what action he should take in these situations, often lying awake at night, going over his thoughts. As he learns more about what David is up to and more about aspects of his relationship with Tammy, alongside some choices she has made, he starts to lose the plot. Time after time, his loving wife tells him there is nothing to do, and they have to play dumb about one personal aspect.
This beautiful film is about a man whose family is turned upside down. It’s authentically middle-class Americana and absorbingly acted, but also exquisitely shot by cinematographer Scott Miller. It’s not a flashy film, aware that where a camera is placed and static photography can be just as impressive. These are typically shots observing the family from afar or outside, whereas indoors, they are often depicted with shakiness, perfectly representing the chaotic nature of the household.
In an age when parents insist that their offspring, children, or adults can never do wrong, A Little Prayer is essential in depicting the importance of accepting such instances. It’s filled with rich performances, complex characters, optimism, heartwarming revelations, and wisdom.
Flickering Myth Rating – Film: ★ ★ ★ ★ / Movie: ★ ★ ★
Robert Kojder is a member of the Chicago Film Critics Association, Critics Choice Association, and Online Film Critics Society. He is also the Flickering Myth Reviews Editor. Check here for new reviews and follow my BlueSky or Letterboxd
