User Reviews

The Heart of Man, surprising the artistic backdrop to this documentary. The stories told are honest (brutally) and they are compelling. Its about how we as humans in the condition we are fall victim to desires that lead deception, brokenness and hurting the very ones we love. We lie, we hide and we deny there is a problem, Until. The documentary itself is so important because of the epidemic of sex addiction that it deals with that is tearing families apart leaving broken and wounded souls in it's path. It is about how to get beyond the addiction and through honestly facing the demon and through reconciliation and redemption lives and families are restored.

The backdrop story, a group of actors playing out the very stories told by those sharing their life experiences tell the story without saying a word. And if you never heard any of the real life stories in the film you would still know what they were by what you would see. The cinematography is stunning and so well done, the imagery of a family/clan of years ago and the draw of forbidden desires and the lust for them that leads a prodigal to search out what he believes is there. Only to find heartbreak but a loving father pursue him, restores him and reclaims him as his own.

If you struggle with this problem see the film it will help. If you don't struggle with this problem see the film because you can be part of the help. I hope it makes the theaters again but whatever way you can see it do, it will change your understanding of infidelity and sexual addiction how it happens, why and what leads to restoration. It is truly an amazing film.

This film has been masterfully produced and of all the films I saw in 2018 it was the most impactful on me personally. One I will watch again. this is a christian movie without the cringe factor that to often is apart of such films. you know what I mean! one thing i would say is be prepared to reevaluate where your view of yourself and where your view of God as Father has come from. This film has truly honoured the spirit of Elijah.

One thing, I would have not have added was the fireside chat after the film. It was ok, but I found it better to just sit with the gravity of what I just saw without it being explained to me.

A moving and heart renching look inside ourselves and the shame we all carry.

The movie brings hope through stories of personal salvation and the pursuing heart of our father God to our darkest sins and hurt.

This movie has changed me. I am a new creature.

I didn't know what this movie was about before going in, other than it was Christian. Effectively, it is a documentary with an incredible audio and visual backdrop; very well done, very uplifting, very humbling.

The "movie" per se (the characters acting out the movie) is well done (it's visually stunning), but they aren't reciting lines. Instead they're acting out what the voiceovers are saying. In that way, it is a very powerful presentation of the story of the prodigal son.

I plan on purchasing this and showing it to my kids annually to remind all of us of the grace that our Lord has given us, and as a warning to not fall for the lies of the enemy that are so prevalent in our society today.

This movie couldn't have come along at a better time for me. I just started going to church a few months ago, after avoiding it my entire adult life, but I was struggling to find what I was looking for. I was getting discouraged because I wasn't "feeling" it but I desperately want to have a relationship with God before it's too late. I'm 57 and I've made a LOT of mistakes in my life so I need a lot of forgiveness and reassurance. After watching this movie, I have a whole new outlook on my life and my faith. I'm excited and relieved to know that I am worthy of forgiveness. I'm actually looking forward to going to church this week! Thank you for making this amazing movie. I appreciate it more than I can say.

How can I describe a movie that is incredibly visually stimulating when using mere words to describe it? But I will try... The mix of the dramatic presentation juxtaposed by the raw and honest interviews made this rendition of the parable of the prodigal son come alive! The acting was superb and the cinematography was was done with such excellence that if there were no words, you would get the idea clearly by watching all the breathtaking scenes. I went with 5 friends, 3 men and 3 women total. Each of us was moved by the story and felt it applied quite personally to each of us in different ways. It was a story that spoke of tragic results of good desires gone wild. It was a story of our struggle to set ourselves free from the bondage of guilt and shame. It was a story of the heart of our Father, God, and His desire for our best, even when we are at our worst. "Intense" is too light a word to describe the weight of this theme. It is a universal human theme...to desire something more than God Himself. "Prone to wander" could have been the theme song. But it doesn't end there, thankfully. Restoration is the longing of our God for each of us and the transformation that occurs when we begin to understand who we are and Whose we are brings us closer to His heart. His love heals and restores, and as the movie sweetly depicts, brings us back into harmony with our God. I would strongly recommend this movie to men and women of all ages because it speaks to male issues and female issues of lust and desire in ALL aspects of life (not only sexual). Also, there is a discussion at the end of the movie that will help the viewer to understand some of the symbolism and the heart of the director. Some of the characters are part of the discussion as well as some of those being interviewed. This important time wrapped up the theme and intent of the movie nicely, and it was well worth the extra time spent at the end. This flick was done with as much excellence (if not more) than any Hollywood made movie I have ever seen. Ask your local theaters to show it again! When it comes out on DVD, I will be sure to own it and share it with as many as I can!

This is a movie that takes a hard and honest look at the roots of shame. It examines why so many feel unworthy to be loved and why these feelings create destructive behaviors. It addresses how many use pornography as an extension of their imagination in an attempt to find fulfillment - with interviews of top thought-leaders, William Paul Young ("The Shack"), Dr. Dan Allender (Professor of Counseling Psychology), John Lynch (co-author, "The Cure) and Jackie Hill Perry (spoken word artist), on brokenness, identity and shame. It's a movie about unfailing love and hope.

It features a small part from Serena Karnagy (from the Hawaii Five-O series) and it has an amazing music score and cinematography. It's uniquely done and admirably so, as the retelling of the ancient prodigal son story is intertwined with real life testimonies.

This movie is a piece of art. I have every intention of watching it several more times. There's a lot to take in - a lot to chew on. It moves you. It's about our human nature and it's a confirmation of a spiritual journey that we are all on - one that ultimately yields great reward.

"Shame hates it when we reach out and tell our story. It hates having words wrapped around it - it can't survive being shared. Shame loves secrecy. When we bury our story, the shame metastasizes." - Brené Brown

This is one of the most movie or documentaries, whatever it is, that I have ever seen. I was glued to the actors because it was real. Real everyday life of temptation, falling, God's faithfulness, and His redemption covered with His patience and love. It describes the heart of me as well as each of us in our lives. I was quiet when it was over with a wow moment of awe. Loved staying die the interviewees afterwards to see all that went I to it. The cinematography was incredible

Thank you to the creators of this film for the beautiful portrayal of struggle so many people go through- and the freedom that comes from the realization that among other things, God is not condemning or judging us, but is loving us and wants to enter into our struggle with us....

At first I went into this thinking, "another Christian movie.. sure sure".

Then, I relaxed a bit, started to listen to the testimony, the stories, and realized, this was about so much more that the prodigal son, and Gods unconditional love. It was about men/women/people being able to testify to their pain, the suffering that the have been through, the scars and wounds that they carry. It's about knowing it has impact, and doesn't go away when you buy a shiny car, new house, or find "love" in all the wrong place. It's that real acceptance to your pain, and wounds, and being open and real in the love that God has for you. It's admitting brokenness, and trauma... and letting the Father be there for you.

I was really hit by the strength and courage that each person had in confessing, giving testimony to the world the sin and shame they carried, and realized, if we could all do better in this, what a different place we could live in. Shame is a weight so great, it crushes you through your whole life, and must be shed to live free, and in Gods love.

Seconds of sin, lead to a lifetime of Shame... Give this video a chance, take from it what you will, but I feel it is well worth the watch, and discussion. I am 100% confident you have spent 120 min watching something that has no value and were ok with that. :)

Hi, can I have my money back? Pretty sure I donated $200 for the production of this film (Passion 2013 supported these guys). Wish y'all would have told me you were created a therapeutic inclusivistic (we are all sons and daughters of God) film with barely any substance for a non-believer or someone who is actually broken in sexual sin to cling to. Not the cross of Christ, not the forgiveness of sins solely through Jesus and the holy lifestyle that follows after. Anyways, maybe I should have known when I saw the author of the shack within the first 3 minutes of the film. Honestly, upset that Jackie Hill Perry didn't vet through some of this and saw that this film would do barely and good and give a skewed view of God. If you are a Bible believing Christian, you will not be entertained and not like the focus of the film on shame, fear, and the weak view of God as Father instead of the realities of bondage to sin and needing Christ.

Also, EXTREMELY boring film. Literally I would fast-forward the documentary just to get to a point where they were talking about something. Like, poorly made production quality, seemed like they were advertising a vacation resort in the bahamas instead of a sexual brokenness documentary. Typical 21st century mainline christianity though, just take a look at any Hillsong / Elevation music video and this is like an hour long version of that.

Reason why I gave it a three instead of a 1? Because I do think there are some good truths to this film -- the reality of the brokenness of sexual sins and the restoration of life through forgiveness. The problem is, it was all moralistic instead of a focused attention to Jesus Christ and your identity needing to be rooted in him. Also, I like Jackie Hill Perry and I couldn't give her a 1, she saved the film.

This movie did not provide a true understanding of the forgiveness of God. This movie seemed more to talk about the perspective of a cheater and their search for forgiveness that they felt they deserved. Without giving respect or attention to those who suffered due to their choices and actions. The movie instead focused on three people who cheated on their partners and had them speaking about how they have used Gods love and forgiveness to make them feel better about themselves so they can continue their lives without guilt. Sorry but they made the choice in the first place to do these things at the cost of their family and partners while calling themselves Christian's and good people in those moments. I did find the other peoples stories more understanding such as the abuse they had suffered and addiction they had overcome and they did that by allowing God into their lives. I feel the focus on forgiveness was lost in the recounts of cheating stories. I think instead they should have focused more on the love of God and the changes that people had made. What sacrifices they made to redeem themselves and to help those they hurt so badly. Instead it felt like a quick fix chat about agreeing they did wrong but moving on easily through the thought that God loves everyone and forgives all sins. If they had focused more on the women who had obvisouly shown great forgiveness to still remain with these unfaithful people we may then have seen God through their actions and their struggles. I do think the people who shares their stories have helped open a topic that should be discussed and I wish them success and happiness for their relationships in the future. I believe this movie may have benefited and been more acceptable with their approach had they included more of an understanding of how much cheating can destroy relationships and the people who are hurt by the people they love. It would have been good to have this explained more and also focus more on steering people away from the idea of cheating. Teach people how wrong it is so they do not do it themselves. Instead they are saying it's ok you've done wrong God will forgive you whatever you do. Give us some Christian morals along with all that you have said because clearly these people lacked them from the start and could really use them and have them instilled in their heart. Live for God and for those you love. Do not make selfish choices for your own satisfaction.