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Reviews
Silent Night in Algona (2022)
Discover the Treasure; An Extraordinary Time & Outcome
In a world where film 'ratings' often are based on the bizarre or the wicked, comes a true story where genuine humanity and relationships prevail during a dark and difficult time in our nation's history.
Discover the 'little known' story of a small rural Iowa town where a World War II prison camp housed thousands of young soldiers, far from their German homeland. Meet the families from the community who are suffering economically and without their own soldier men and sons available to support their farming and harvest operations.
And experience the relationships that are forged when 'enemies' are thrown together to help one another through difficult times.
Relationships from that time have endured generations. The amazing half-life size Nativity Scene (gift from the prisoners) is still viewed by thousands each year. See the film, visit the community, and immerse yourself in a heart-warming depiction of a historic tale that the news headlines did not cover.
Lost Heart (2020)
New Beginnings - Be Aware of the Unexpected... that Awaits if we are Watchful.
Our small Iowa community has just had the amazing experience of working with producers and actors, DJ, Melissa, Shane and Tony on the movie, "Silent Night in Algona" (based on true events) that will be released in fall of 2022.
We've become familiar with more of this team's movies - and certainly appreciate their consistent genuine character, talent and work ethic to produce quality film art.
The movie, Lost Heart, is very moving in its own way. The 'last thing' that I thought I would take away from the film is the UFA concept (unidentified flying angels). A little 'far fetched', I was thinking.
But guess what....... My mom passed away in November of 2019. She and Dad lived on our family farm for over 64 years. She was in the local rural hospital during her final few days. On the night she passed away, all of us siblings were with her as she slept, breathing was shallow and irregular. At 10:40 p.m. She suddenly opened her eyes, and reached for the sky while staring at something above her. Within 5 minutes, she was gone.
Meanwhile (we learned the next morning), Mom and Dad's long time friend and farming neighbor, Karen, was in her kitchen washing dishes. Her kitchen window faces East and overlooks my parents' farm. The night was pitch black, no visible moon, so there was nothing to see out of the kitchen window. But Karen was soon startled by a sudden light that appeared. It engulfed the entire building site at my parents' farm until the whole place glowed.
Karen yelled at her husband to come look and they ran outside to see what was causing the unusual light (the moon? Headlights from the nearby road? A fire? No....nothing) the glow originated above the farm and engulfed it. The eerie sight lasted for a few minutes and then faded away. The next morning, Karen and Mark learned of my Mom's passing.
You may be guessing this already - the timing of 'the glow' and my mom's passing are the same..... Maybe we had an Iowa UFA.
Enjoy the movie, the message and the heart-felt effort that makes this and many stories possible through a 'positive artform'.