A Question of Faith Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		3.5
Audio		4.0
Extras		0.0
Overall		3.0

A Question of Faith Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Martin Liebman February 28, 2022

A Question of Faith asks much of its characters and much of its audience. The film, from Director Kevan Otto and Writer Ty Manns, explores the divine hand in tragedy. What is the purpose of a young life cut short? Can all of those impacted -- those who mourn loss, those who question fate, those who bear the brunt of responsibility -- find not only peace but God's purpose through it all? The film is effective in channeling grief through all of the various tributaries that ultimately lead to one answer: God is good, even, and especially, in those things that appear beyond human understanding and reason. That the film ultimately sees its characters find peace and redemption is no surprise, and neither is how they get there, but the picture's purpose is not to make a surprise revelation but reinforce the truth it champions.

David Newman (Richard T. Jones) is an overworked pastor who has poured his heart into a new church expansion project. That means he doesn't have anything left over to give to his family. Every waking moment is spent at the church, and when he promises his son Eric (Caleb T. Thomas) that he won't miss his big basketball game, well, something comes up and he's forced to stay at work. When he finally gets away, it's too late. A despondent Eric has headed home on foot and is struck by a vehicle driven by a distracted, texting teen named Maria (Karen Valero). Eric is left brain damaged and Maria is thrown in jail. Eric's life has been cut short, and with no chance of recovery, his family agrees to pull the plug and allow his organs to be donated to needy recipients. One such recipient is a young lady named Michelle (Amber Thompson), a gifted young singer on the verge of a record contract that will assuredly spell relief for her financially strapped father, a contractor named John (C. Thomas Howell). When Michelle collapses and is in need of a new heart, she gets one from Eric. Will God work all things for the good, or will pain and tragedy and doubt and fear tear three families apart?

The film follows three families torn apart by tragedy and explores how they respond, externally and spiritually alike, to the crisis. On one side of tragedy is a family that cannot accept what God has taken away. On the other is a family that cannot thank Him enough for His blessing. However, Pastor Newman finds himself on the other end of God, questioning his faith and his very soul as he struggles to come to terms both with what has happened to Eric and why God would allow such a tragedy to befall him. On the other end is John who, even as he should be celebrating his daughter’s transplant, cannot bring himself to focus on the positive and only continue to languish in the negative. The film is certainly dark, but it also strives to be hopeful by shining light where it's needed most and reinforcing its themes not of mere acceptance but also understanding of the bigger picture.

In the film, both Pastor Newman’s wife Theresa (Kim Fields) and John’s wife Mary (Renee O’Connor) are the rocks. Both hold their husbands to a higher standard – God’s standards – as the men sulk about, Pastor Newman questioning God and John unwilling to recognize the blessing in his life. Both are fixated on the problems of the world rather than fixated on God. The film challenges both of these characters to broaden their perspective and see the larger story at play. That larger story comes together in a way that is at once touching but also a little contrived; the intersection comes with a healthy application of grace and divine touch. It’s not cheesy but very heartfelt in the contrivance. The sincere emotions pulse through the film and will more than likely elicit a real emotional response even in the most hard-hearted audience member, both as the film raises the question of why? and answers in its own genuine way.

A Question of Faith Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Universal and Pure Flix bring A Question of Faith to Blu-ray with a passably good 1080p transfer. The image is generally healthy, boasting good clean digital sheen and sharp textural definition. Viewers will appreciate the way everyday HD essentials like faces and clothes find solid ground depth and detail, while some of the more unique locations, like a church sanctuary interior and hospital room, offer clear, tangible texturing. Colors are stout with good vivid punch and depth, nothing so exotic as to stand out but not so drab and dull as to look depressed, either. No, colors are perfectly natural and neutral with solid whites and blacks and flesh tones that occupy that desirable lifelike space. The picture does suffer from some rudimentary problems like source noise and banding, but these are usually not present to a debilitating extent. This is a solid enough presentation that adequately compliments the movie.

A Question of Faith Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There's not a whole lot going on with A Question of Faith's DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtrack. The presentation is fairly straightforward with dialogue propelling the experience. It's well prioritized, adequately lifelike, and grounded in the front center channel. Much of the additional audio content comes during musical numbers, which offer, primarily and most importantly, excellent lyrical clarity but also wide stretch instrumental engagement and, again, excellent definition. The track rarely engages the surrounds or subwoofer in a meaningful way, but there's a pleasing fullness to the track that allows the listener to feel engaged in the scene even when it's just background ambience, like various beeps in a hospital room, filling the blank space.

A Question of Faith Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

This Blu-ray release of A Question of Faith contains no supplemental content. A DVD copy of the film is included with purchase. This release does not ship with a slipcover.

A Question of Faith Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

The film is very sincere in its pursuits, even if it does come across as a something akin to a 100-minute advertisement for an anti-texting-while-driving campaign. Still, its sincerity is to be applauded and its messages of hope and trust and, yes, as the title suggests, faith, hit home. The film does its best not to be "preachy" but rather allow relatable human emotion and the search for answers to define its approach to its divine connection. The acting is solid and the production values are strong, even if the film is visually and technically undemanding. This Universal/Pure Flix Blu-ray is featureless but does deliver acceptable video and audio presentations. Recommended.