Henry Poole is Here
(M) Luke Wilson, Rhada Mitchell

"Changing his attitude will take a miracle."

Henry Poole moves back into his childhood neighbourhood. He finds himself the centre of the community’s attention when the face of Jesus appears in his newly-rendered outside wall.

His deeply religious next door neighbour believes this is a sign from God. All Henry sees is pesky religious nuts traipsing through his backyard.

Henry doesn’t believe it’s possible that Jesus has appeared on his wall but, when a child talks after being mute for years and a local woman who serves him at the supermarket no longer needs glasses after touching the wall, this gives Henry pause.

It’s what we find out about Henry that makes this film worth watching. It is intriguing, but its intentions seem to be hampered by the film’s ponderous and preachy tone. And Henry’s literal whack on the head to come to his senses about all the wackiness around him only amplifies the film’s lack of nuance and complexity.

A mainstream film that asks the “what does life mean” question and answers it with the miraculous presence of God, this is definitely a film to check out.

ADRIAN DRAYTON

Discussion Starters

1. How would you react if you were in Henry's position?

2. Henry was presented with very concrete ways God was at work, yet he still didn't believe in the miracle in his back yard. How would we react if we experienced a miracle?

3. Hope and redemption are strong themes in this film. How does Henry experience these things by the end of the film?

View a featurette about the making of Henry Poole is Here