AN UNCOMMON GRACE DVD

Unlike my typical reviews, this will focus on plot and content, not on an analysis of the available versions. For the record, the best available version for picture is the Digital HD version, which matches the televised HD version, while the audio is identical on the DVD, televised and Digital versions. On to the review....When I was a kid, Hallmark didn't just focus on making squeaky-clean, perfect-people films. Back in the day, and I admit it was a while ago, Hallmark, under the banner "Hallmark Hall of Fame", made films about real people in situations that bore striking resemblance to situations being faced by people in my own circle of friends, even in my own family. They were films that made you think, not only about what you had just witnessed and absorbed but, in a more important way, about your own life and about how you would handle that situation, whatever it was, if it happened in your life. They weren't afraid to talk about God, as though they thought people on Twitter would climb through their windows at home and scold them. They weren't afraid to be honest about times when people in certain groups are right and times when they are clearly wrong. They weren't afraid to say that there isn't always a clear, correct answer. And, in that vein, somehow, they produced, after the year 2000, this little film, "An Uncommon Grace", which is well worth the time to view.To sum up the initial film set-up, Grace has returned home, from Afghanistan, where she served as an Army Medic, to care for her grandmother, the superb Kelly McGillis, and to help with her younger, college-student, sister, while her grandmother heals from a cardiac incident. Grace is uncertain of her future, whether she will return to service, and feels uncomfortable living a civilian life. In the beginning of the film, a violent and un-shown attack on the neighboring, Amish farm, sends Grace down a path of self-discovery, forcing the young man next door to finally go down that same path.Grace has not thought much about religion, even though her family is involved with their church and its outreach programs. Her neighbor, Levi, has never thought much about what life is supposed to be, and what God intended when he put so many different kinds of people together, on one little planet. Both have skirted the big issue in their life, what God wants for them, and, in doing so, have left themselves at a distance from their families, keeping secrets and not moving forward. The attack in the early part of the film pushes Grace and Levi to move forward, whether they want to or not, and sets the stage for them to be able to work together to stop that attacker from harming more people and to fall in love. Yes, this is a Hallmark movie, after all, so it is a romance, and there's nothing wrong with that.As Grace, Jes Macallan, an actress I had never seen before, did an outstanding job portraying a woman dealing with all the issues inherent in coming home from war and choosing between a military family and the family you are born to. For those with military in their families, this is a particularly realistic portrayal, absent all the melodrama of the stories we usually get about soldiers, filled with the kind of honest discussion we have seen in our family, so I have to give her credit for getting it right, when so many others over-act that issue.Sean Faris, as her Amish neighbor and a member of the family attacked at the beginning of the film, proves, yet again, that he can act circles around many of the young men commonly cast in TV movies. His performance makes it feel more like an independent drama than a Hallmark movie, as there is nothing silly about his performance.Kelly McGillis, who has been in several Amish themed films over the years, lends that authenticity to her performance that is uniquely hers. When she was young, she mastered being in the space of a set and moving around the other actors as though they were, truly, who they were meant to be playing. It has always been what makes her special. She has an ease with everything around her that makes a prop in her hand feel like it is hers, from her home, something she uses all the time, and that is made all the more apparent in her interactions with Jes, as her granddaughter.Recently, I watched Eric McCormack fail to chop up a carrot in a Hallmark film, where I was meant to believe that he is a cook. It was funny enough, unintentionally entertaining, but reminded me just how special all three of the main actors were in this film, which I had watched the week before. Each of the three main actors were comfortable in their surroundings and completely real in their portrayals. As a result, I can't recommend this film highly enough. If you are looking for an old-style Hallmark romance with mystery and personal growth and, basically, all the things that are missing in most new Hallmark movies, then this one is definitely for you. The mystery is, as most are, predictable, but well executed and wonderfully acted.I hope this helps you to find the film that will brighten your day. I have watched this one too many times now and I surely will again. There is something wonderful in a film that asks you to think about life from other perspectives, to clarify what works in your life and what doesn't. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do, if you choose to watch this one. Here's hoping Hallmark gets back to making more like it.

Some of the Hallmark movies--especially the last few years have become grating on the senses. Sappy, corny, fake, phony. It is very hard to watch some of them that look like they were slapped together. But quite a few of the old ones are especially great, and worth watching over and over. An Uncommon Grace is one of the latter. I've seen it twice once several years ago, and again saw it this week. I came to Amazon to buy it, because for some reason they don't let you buy some. Turns out I already bought this (thank you Amazon for telling us when we've already bought something). I've got a huge collection of DVDs, so I'm glad I've got it.Another great Hallmark movie is Love finds you in Charm. Another wonderful Amish movie and one worth watching as well.

Amazing acting and story line

Watched probably 4 times now, good acting interesting movie well done

I ordered this movie since I like Sean Faris and hadn’t seen it. If you like Sean, Kelly McGillis, or Jess McCallan, you’ll probably like it. On the cover it says “She left for war, he brought her home.” Er . . .not exactly. She came home to make sure her grandmother was OK and then got involved in the next-door Amish family’s issues. All the actors are good and very believable in their roles. I enjoyed seeing Sean in a very different kind of role. But I thought the story’s pacing was uneven; it felt very slow up until the end when everything wrapped up quickly and neatly. I don’t know much about Amish culture so that part was interesting but I don’t know how accurate it is. It’s fine for a Hallmark movie. I’d probably watch it again some time. If you like Sean Faris, you may also like Christmas with Holly and A Veteran's Christmas. Those two are my favorites.

This is a film that has several layers of surprising substance: 1) Grace Conner (played by Jes Macallan in a nuanced role), an army nurse returning from Afghanistan, moves to a rural home in Ohio. She is suffering from a mild case of PTS and hopes that the quietude of her new surroundings will help her to fully recover and return to her unit. Unfortunately, her residence abuts a highly conservative traditional community comparable to the Amish which is highly disapproving of any interaction she has with her neighbors. 2) She very quickly comes into contact with the family of Levi Troyer (convincingly and sensitively played by Sean Faris - Forever Strong, Never Back Down, Reunion) due to a horrible tragedy. From the moment Grace meets Levi (who speaks with a most effective and proper accent), one can sense a connection. But here is where you have a delicate and problematic situation when different cultural worlds collide. 3) This is compounded by the fact that the Bishop of Levi's community insists that Levi marry his daughter, no ifs, ands, or buts. Sean refuses. The Bishop's daughter who is most definitely interested in Levi connives to entrap him. 4) How will Levi relate to Grace? How will he handle the Bishop's daughter and the Bishop? How will Levi deal with the need for contemporary technology (e.g., a cell phone) in case of an emergency when conditions call for it, despite a prohibition against it and other modern conveniences? Kelly McGillis, almost unrecognizable from her role in Top Gun, plays the role of Grace's understanding and guiding aunt. This is a beautifully crafted movie without being judgmental; and while being somewhat obvious, is most definitely not trite. The ending (NO Spoilers here) should please viewers in several ways.

Love it 👍

Loved the story and found it very moving at the end

I absolutely LOVE this storyline set in Amish country! This is one of those movies that I watch several times a year. If you are a hopeless romantic, or enjoy watching a sweet movie with drama, suspense, and love, then this is sure to be a favorite! "An Uncommon Grace" is a good, clean, respectful movie for the whole family!

La filmación y el dvd están perfectos pero no se pueden sacar los subtítulos y bloquean la pantalla

A film I enjoyed and have watched a second time, nice story line so happy with my purchase.

Bought in nov 19th 2019 for my wife’s birthday on 20th March 2020. On the website there was no information regarding REGION,if there was I would not have bought this dvd. When on her birthday she was very pleased until we tried to play, what a disappointment. AS I SAID BEFORE THERE WAS NOTHING ON THE WEBSITE TO TELL ME ABOUT REGION 1. WILL NOT BUY FROM THIS COMPANY AGAIN.

I really loved this movie. Got it from the Library, watched it three times before taking it back .Liked it so much, had to own it. Came very quickly. I really like movies involving the Amish, especially liked the three main actors, Jes Macallan, Sean Faris, Kelly McGillis.