Breakthrough (2019)

In Missouri, USA on an icy morning in January 2015, what many can regard as a modern day miracle happened. Breakthrough tells us this true story. It falls under the category of Christian faith based movies and relay the true events of how a 14 year old boy who drown while playing on the frozen lake was miraculously brought back to life after being "dead" for nearly an hour! If the mention of this being a Christian faith based movie turns you off, then, stay far away as this will likely not be your cup of tea. To be fair, unlike most other faith based movies, Breakthrough doesn't feel as forced and heavily religious or preachy which can be a turn off to more discerning viewers. Indeed the main characters are portrayed as ordinary humans with their personal flaws and weaknesses. Another plus point is that the overall performance and script was presented in a more believable manner rather than the usual preachy style which most Christian movies tend to be..

Since this is based on true events with its outcome already known from the well documented story as well as from the film's romotional material, the story telling and closure becomes more important in keeping its audience engaged. Here is where things becomes a little touchy for viewers of different faith or even of the same faith for that matter. The boy's resurrection here is presented to us undeniably as the result of divine intervention, and promotes the power and influence of prayers in determining the outcome. While the boy's miraculous survival is indeed something to rejoice and celebrate, one cannot help having the nagging question of why he was singled out to be saved while so many other prayers remained unanswered. This was briefly addressed in the film but without offering any answers. Of course how can anyone be able to do that as we all know there are no easy answers to why certain things happens and why they don't. While such stories offers us the comfort and joys of having our prayers answered, it should not however, weaken us when our prayers seemingly do not. We mustn't forget that we need to be prepared to face the ups and downs of what life gives us and not expect things to always work out for us just because we are stubbornly religious.

The real life pastor, the boy who survived and his mother today

Breakthrough offers a decent enough account of the true life story of a miraculous survival of a drown victim. As a Christian faith based movie it is understandably one sided. If offers some interesting glimpse of how the church has evolved its attempts to attract the younger generation. I feel it can be enjoyed by Christians as well as not Christians, although I suspect the latter category of viewers would probably end up with a lot more questions than answers at the end.