As I watched this movie I thought less of a boy rebelling and more of a boy caught between two worlds and trying to decide which of the two was a better fit for who he was long term. Was he a boy (young man) who would blow off his learning and do what he could to scrape by, or was he a boy who would turn into a man with the willingness to work hard to achieve what he really wanted? What choices was he going to make the would affect him long-term.
Sean's best friend represents one world. Party, live for the moment, do what you want kind of outlook. The young lady that he likes who is also on a journey of learning who she really is. Then there's the world of his parents with family and faith intertwined with rules about how you aught to live. In the midst of it all is a college professor who consistently demands more of him. Consistently challenging him to figure out the choices he is making in his life.
I won't tell you where the lad ends up or what sort of man he becomes. Because this really is this young man's story. He's not a boy though he often acts like one. He's a young man learning what sort of man he wants to be.
My take on this movie?
Well, not particularly my cup of tea.
I would rather sit down and talk with a young person about the things they are going through, and help them sort through the issues they are facing.
Watching all the angst of this young person's life just ultimately didn't appeal to me, though it was good that he managed to come to terms with who he wanted to be.
Neither my son (nine) or hubby liked the movie and hubby barely managed to sit through it with me. The father's two minute sermon at the end was a total turn off for hubby and me... our thoughts were "if that's how the lad was raised then no wonder he has struggled so much". It was also a very slow moving show. My son kept disappearing and occasionally resurfacing to say.. has anything new happened?
I am not sure what audience I would recommend this movie for. I'm kinda considering that perhaps mid-teens or a young college group. To give a glimpse that God can work through the angst and the searching that many young people go through as they forge identities separate from their parents. Or possibly for a parent's group to give them a glimpse of some of the struggles that their college bound children might face, and how to help prepare them for it.
Product Details:
Received: DVD "Confessions of a Prodigal Son"
Viewtime: about 90 minutes
Producer: Cinedigm
Directed by: Allan Spiers
TRAILER EMBED CODE: <iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/GXpevoqpY2w" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
ARTWORK: https://www.hightail.com/download/UlRUV0p3UzhubVhsZThUQw