The Christmas Candle

We've been watching this movie on YouTube. It is such a heartfelt show. We went ahead and bought it just so we can always have it. I really highly recommend you watch it.

Reverend David Richmond has stopped preaching and works at a soup kitchen. He's kind and tender-hearted and when he is persuaded to resume ministry it's in a little Christmas Card village called Gladbury. This village has a 200 year old tradition of a miracle candle, given special powers by an Angel at Christmas. This candle is much saught after by the villagers, all of whom have hardships and problems. Our hero is not impressed with what he thinks is a superstition, but the people are firm in their beliefs. All except the pretty Miss Barstow who can't wait to leave this backward place and its fairy tales for London.Richmond and the villagers have a great deal to learn about each other. It becomes painful, even tragic. At times he comes across as annoying, other times gentle and charitable. The candle maker and his wife are not above a little cover-up when the plans for the candle go awry. But they have their own heartbreak too.The plot is good, and the last hour has many twists and turns. It turns out like every Christmas movie should, snowfall, and the people united in joy and hope and song...the music is lovely - Susan Boyle in fine voice.

Good plot. Interesting perspective on the difference between faith and superstition.

I am Shere Khan the Tiger and I powerfully approve this message for love of God. Being the devoted, faithful Catholic that I am, I take Christmas very seriously about the true meaning of the holiday season that has been unfortunately commercialized by society. I'm not saying that I don't enjoy a good gift for Christmas, or a good egg nog latte, or Christmas carol all through out December, but The birth of Jesus Christ means the world to me. This movie right here is the perfect representation of how Christmas is really supposed to be spent and celebrated. Sure you have your big holiday films such as Home Alone, White Christmas, Elf, Santa Claus, etc. really big critically acclaimed films that do make the holidays a lot of fun to enjoy. But it's not like this, which is probably why it didn't get enough recognition. In this film, a retired pastor (Hans Matheson) is brought back into service when he gets a request to become the local preacher of an English town called Gladbury. There he discovers the townsfolk have a powerful belief in a tradition they call the Christmas Candle, a candle selected every year around Christmas by an angel to provide a miracle for someone special. While at first the pastor is very skeptical about the chances of this being true, he later discovers that miracles don't come from just a simple little candle, but in each and every one of us with the best intentions for others, that is where the miracles are found. There is a huge focus on God as the towns people rely on Him constantly to help them in their needs as well as the pastor who little by little finds himself questioning his own stance on faith. The film has a beautiful message about real love, care, compassion, giving to others, having a strong faith, and above all, especially for all Christians, the miracle that was the birth of Baby Jesus. You don't find this a lot in lots of other Christmas films and if you do, they're found in very little metaphorical manners. The setting is beautiful of old England style creating a grander emphasis on the beauty aspect of life and the gift that God gives us to be able to enjoy lushy, green, beautiful paradises if one thinks of it that way. The film shines through it's impressive cast which include a few familiar faces such as Samantha Barks (Les Miserables), Sylvester McCoy (The Hobbit Trilogy), Lesley Manville (Maleficent), and the singer Susan Boyle, who shines through her miraculous song "Miracle Hymn". While I don't have much else to say about this extraordinary film, I will say that this is a must have for every believer and even non-believer if they look deep inside themselves and follow their hearts, they might just hear a calling to it. The Christmas Candle is a masterpiece on every level from acting to camera work and a true reminder for us all what we really should be celebrating about during the Christmas season.God bless you all my fellow Amazon shoppers.

Susan Boyle did okay in her first acting role.

Not okay for young kids (thanks Dove)- the plot is over their heads and frustrating to follow….and then there is the subplot line of a young women taken advantage of by her boss that ends in a pregnancy. Not what I was expecting but not a terrible movie for 12+ that can understand how the world is due to sin. I liked it because God can and does redeem sinners and situations; that was portrayed well in this movie.

The story about miraculous Christmas candles was itself miraculous! The acting was superb across all performers, and Susan Boyle's singing and acting were added bonuses. This should become as popular as "Miracle on 34th Street", since God's miracles and God Himself are obviously more important than Santa Claus.

Bought it as a gift for friend.

Really good story. A village has a tradition that a specially selected candle made (along with others) is chosen to bless an individual in the village by as visiting angel. A new Minister comes to the village and doesn't go along with their beliefs. Susan Boyle has a role as one of the villagers and her singing is included in the film. I won't say any more as it will spoil it when you watch it.

Despite her singing ability, Susan Boyle is definitely no actress, and her part appears to have been so cut that’s she's hardly in the film and sings very little too! A good director could have achieved far more with her, however inexperienced she is. The weak script, and even weaker direction by numbers, does not give the talented cast much to work with and the climax is so badly prepared, it falls flat too. This religious Christmas fable could have been much much better in a more computing production. It gave us very little pleasure. Perhaps undemanding youngsters might stick it out...we just about managed to stay the course, but it was very heavy going.

The film adaption of the book revolves around the collision of the old and new in which a progressive young minister (who has lost his faith) is persuaded to go to Gladbury at the behest of the town's leading lady to re-kindle the faith in that town. This he does as his own faith renews he changes many customs introducing electricity etc, which flies in the face of the tradition that every 25 years an angel comes and selects a single candle and the recipient thereof receives a miracle. The film is about the missing candle and how the various competing issues resolve themselves.

After watching this film at a neighbours I just had to buy it. Although it might not be to everyone’s taste in films I found it to be heartwarming and a bit emotional in a happy way. There are quite a few recognisable faces in the film including Susan Boyal. All in all I love this film

This is such a lovely story, Susan Boyle sings the most beautiful christmas hymm. Prompt delivery, well packaged and excellent value, great seller.