Unsung Hero Parent Guide

A successful concert promoter, David Smallbone (Joel Smallbone) is living the good life in Australia. With a supportive wife, charming kids, large home, and a glamorous job, things don’t get much better – until the economy slides into recession.

David has leveraged everything to back a tour by Amy Grant, which flops. His assets are gone, the house is repossessed, and none of his contacts will return his calls. Finally, he manages to find a job in Nashville, so the family travels half way around the world, only to learn that the job has fallen through. Now David has a pregnant wife, six kids, no salary, no car, no medical insurance, and no money. What he has is a legacy of faith, which will be sorely tested but will also sustain this family as they establish themselves in a foreign land.

I have mixed feelings about this movie, but let me begin with its positive aspects. At its best, Unsung Hero is a powerful portrait of a loving, united family that works together, prays together, forgives one another, and provides unflinching support. David and Helen (Daisy Betts) have a solid marriage and, while they aren’t afraid to voice hard truths, they treat each other with love, kindness, and respect. They also communicate clearly with their kids, explaining their financial problems, brainstorming for solutions, and nurturing a climate of resilience and gratitude instead of entitlement or self-pity. The family isn’t perfect and there are moments of discouragement and outright despair, but the power of faith and love keeps them going in dark times.

The movie also offers a touching picture of a warm church family. The Smallbones are fortunate to land in a congregation that takes seriously Jesus Christ’s teachings about caring for others, and it’s heartening to see these believers walk the talk as they care for financially-strapped newcomers. If you, like me, have participated in church Christmas hampers or similar activities, this film will provide a familiar moment of grace.

Despite its solid messages, Unsung Hero also strikes a few flat notes. While I appreciate the need for the family to work together to keep food on the table, I was concerned that the children (who are homeschooled) seem to spend little time studying and lots of time landscaping or house cleaning to pay rent. Sixteen-year-old Rebecca (Kirrilee Berger) also carries an enormous burden as she tries to launch a music career with not just her own future, but her family’s financial survival, on her young shoulders. Whether or not these issues bother you, you can rest assured that other negative material is minimal and this film can be watched by anyone old enough to sit through two hours of action-free drama.

Unsung Hero ends with advice: “If you want to change the world, go home and love your family.” The movie is certainly evidence of the success of that counsel. From indigent immigrants to successful entertainers, the Smallbone family have lived out a rags-to-riches tale and have influenced thousands of Christian music fans. In fact, this film was not only co-written and co-directed by son Joel, but he also stars as his dad, in a role that is clearly meant to be a tribute. But it’s clear throughout the film that the real unsung hero is Helen. And this movie’s for her.