‘A Little Prayer’ Review – Gentle Family Drama Is One Of The Year’s True Gems

Family is not infallible. It is often said that “family is all that you have.” This is typically said to reassure people that, as long as they have someone around who is connected to them by blood, they are not alone. While that sentiment is nice in theory, it can also be quite alienating for those who do not have a particularly close connection to the family they were born into, often for very good reasons. This is what makes the idea of “chosen family” such an invaluable part of the human experience. Family should ideally be the people you want in your life and want to be in your life without the larger burden of obligation–if that person happens to be related by blood, all the better.

Of course, things do not always work out that way. There is a moment late in writer-director Angus MacLachlan’s latest familial drama, A Little Prayer, in which Bill (David Strathairn) is speaking to someone who is discussing having a kid to have something to love that is all their own. Bill wearily notes, “You’ve never had children. They don’t belong to you, and they will break your heart.” Bill has reason enough to seem so burdened by the world. Bill’s daughter, Patti (Anna Camp), has recently moved back into the house he shares with his wife, Venida (Celia Weston), with her young daughter in tow, in what seems like a common ritual of leaving her dirtbag husband and returning after she gets a little money from her folks. While her chaotic presence would be enough, the larger issue concerns Bill’s son, David (Will Pullen), a veteran like his old man who has recently been carrying on an affair with a woman at the business he runs with his father. 

You would never guess so much emotional drama is in store, given the tranquil way in which MacLachlan opens the film. The filmmaker made his feature screenplay debut with the surprise 2005 Sundance breakout, Junebug, and he continues to mine the distinct alchemy conjured within the North Carolina setting that has worked well for him up to this point. It is only in such a calm environment that you could have a character woken up by a hymn being sung from an indeterminate origin as it radiates through the neighborhood. It is in these peaceful, early morning moments that we meet Tammy, the wife of David, played by the radiant Jane Levy. Whereas his own children add to his worries, Bill’s relationship with Tammy is a dream. These two truly listen to one another and respond in kind. After Bill sings a song in French, Tammy notes that she can’t speak the language. Bill earnestly posits that she can do anything she puts her mind to. 

David Strathairn is a veteran of the screen and one of our finest performers, but his performance as Bill is one of his best roles to date. He takes to the measured pace of the story effortlessly, allowing space for the rest of the ensemble to make an impression as well as self-reflection within his own character. The script does not allow him to be a saintly figure, as that would take away from the lived-in quality of Bill. While it does not manifest itself as obviously as it does with David, Bill shows signs of the lingering trauma that comes with being a veteran. You can feel this in the way he speaks to other veterans at the VFW, where David encourages his employees to cut loose after work. 

He is also the product of a more traditional way of thinking, which causes a handful of outbursts in which his beliefs clash with a character taking claim of their own agency. There is no malice intended, but surprise and pain can supersede thoughtful reflection. Such a revelation leads to a powerful moment with Venida, a character who is largely a source of comedic quips and familiar Southern charm for the majority of the film. Celia Weston is so unassuming and natural that she sneaks up on you when she begins to speak through tears while trying to keep her composure. The script deftly captures the idea that although parents may know the secrets that their children are trying to hide from them, it is often their burden to carry this information while they let their loved ones work through their pain. Weston has rarely had a chance to occupy someone so multifaceted, and it suits her beautifully. 

Of all the dynamics at play in the story, the one that works the best, and the one that our mind keeps returning to even after two years since its initial Sundance premiere, is the connection between Bill and Tammy. Amidst the drama, there are multiple scenes in which the two walk together and communicate in a way no other two characters seem interested in or capable of throughout the film. Through this, we truly get to know this somewhat meek, curious young woman. We don’t get a clunky exposition dump for Tammy that underlines every biographical data point of the character. The details are more so in how Jane Levy plays the character in subtle expressions and throwaway lines. While probably best known in the film world for her horror roles, we were first made fans of Levy through her more comedic and heartfelt TV work on shows like Suburgatory and Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist. The actress has rarely had a chance to shine like this in the film world, and she is beautifully devastating. 

The relationship she has with Bill is so pure, and it is because they value one another and choose to nurture it. Most of the unwritten rules would seem to indicate that Bill should support his son throughout any rough patches–he is his blood after all. There are different forms of love and support, though, and MacLachlan threads the needle of what exactly that can mean to perfection. The film culminates in one of the most emotionally affecting scenes of the year. We dare not spoil it, but the quiet earnestness and vulnerability on display serve as a reminder of why movies are so magical. Outside of a few overwritten moments that barely register as a mark against the film, this movie taps into exactly what we want from cinema. This tender, exquisite gem is one of the year’s best films.

A Little Prayer is currently playing in select theaters courtesy of Music Box Films. The film will expand nationally in the coming weeks.