‘Henry Poole’ — Now Family-Friendly
Posted on October 7, 2009 at 3:59 pm
A lovely film that was neglected on its release last year will now be available in a slightly edited version that is suitable for family viewing. It is called “Henry Poole is Here,” and it is the story of a man (Luke Wilson) who thinks he has lost everything. When Henry moves into a small house he just wants to be left alone, and he does his best to obliterate himself. But a stain on his stucco looks to at least one neighbor like it could be an apparition of Jesus. And then, when it seems that the people who come to see it get special blessings, Henry finds that being left alone is getting harder and harder. And then what happens does begin to feel like a miracle, even to Henry.
The film has a lot of heart and a lot of inspiration for both believers and seekers. It is well worth a place on the family’s movie night schedule.
Thanks to commenter Michele for letting me know about the re-release of this film.
Anytime! Thanks for reposting – this is a GREAT family film! I would encourage everyone to check it out and hit up http://www.henrypoolebelieves.com for a trailer and new info about the new version! Right now it looks like they are giving away 10 copies of the movie for free. If you haven’t seen the movie yet, or even if you have, you could always give it to a friend, but it’s definitely worth checking out!
Nell-
I, like you, was a big fan of “Henry Poole Is Here” and it’s a shame it didn’t get more notice upon its release. The theatrical release was rated PG. Censorship in cinema is something I am sickened by, but it is all the more unnecessary when the original release was already decidedly family-friendly. If there was any offending material in the original cut, then my thought is that the child is too young to be interested in or understand the themes that “Henry Poole Is Here” touches upon. I certainly hope this edited version (which no doubt disrespects the director’s vision) is clearly marked as such.