Maggie Collins 

Arts and Entertainment Editor 

Photo credit: Lionsgate 

Movies can transport us to another time, show history unfolding in front of our eyes, or portray the most life-changing moments in a family’s life on the screen. Viewers can have all these experiences with Unsung Hero, which is based on a true story and takes us back in time to show us a family moving across the country pursuing a dream. The film stars and dramatizes the lives of four-time Grammy winners Luke and Joel Smallbone. The Smallbones, also known as the Christian pop group For King & Country, are best known for their hit songs “God Only Knows,” “Together,” and “Fix My Eyes.”    

As a fan of the band since childhood, their songs drew me in, along with their genuine humbleness and compassion for fans and their mission. However, there was a time before they found fame, and we see their journey unfold in the movie.  

At its heart, this story is about family and the true love that binds it together. We meet the Smallbone family at their home in Australia: father David (played by real-life son Joel Smallbone), mom Helen, and six children, with another on the way. The Smallbone family makes the difficult decision to move to Nashville, Tennessee, but their American dream is quickly shattered as they are backed against the wall of a financial crisis.  

Despite a seemingly sad end to a family dream, they come together and pray for a miracle. We see a scene in the movie trailer of the family sitting in a circle on the floor of an empty house. Helen is explaining the current crisis to the kids, calling for action from everyone, from the youngest to the oldest, to work together and make it through. The kids began doing small jobs, from mowing people’s yards to cleaning houses and babysitting to make ends meet. David’s persistent faith in his daughter Rebecca’s musical gift brings them out of this dark place, but only after making bold decisions that nearly cost them everything.  

The snippets of these scenes remind me of the stories Joel and Luke always share between their concert sets. Despite their fame and what their lives look like now, they never let it overshadow their past and what they have overcome. They tell inspiring stories of neighbors leaving groceries on their front steps, a family friend gifting them a car big enough to fit a family of nine, and a local church inviting them to celebrate Christmas and giving them a new washer and dryer. Seeing these stories come to life in a movie is a truly beautiful thing to experience.   

This movie will be released in theaters everywhere on Friday, April 26. Whether you know their music or not, I encourage you to view this story of the struggle and grit it often takes to make it through life, along with the kindness of strangers.   

You can watch the trailer here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_mYkDJ1vBg4