The film is weak, but I love the Amish society, I like its purity and its coexistence in an archaic and naturalistic community, here it is not so represented by the kindness of all its members, as in every society, there are those who are corrupted in character doubtful ... But the film is beautiful despite the precariousness and beginner style of the production ... Beautiful ...
23 Reviews
Enjoyable made-for-tv movie
durblog6 May 2020
I can't speak to the accuracy of the full portrayal of the Amish, although it is clear that this represents one of the stricter Amish sects, and they are right about some aspects (i.e. no reflectors on buggies). I thought it was a good story that held my interest. It has some similarities to Witness (not just Kelly McGillis!) in terms of the outsider in their midst. There's good tension in multiple story lines, and a crime to solve as well.
Amish bashing
Jackbv12324 July 2021
This movie gets a little heavy on Amish bashing, although the source of conflict is an unusually strict sect. Either way, it shows the worst side of strict organized religion.
This is not the most typical Hallmark romance, but it has some things in common with some of those that have revolved around the Amish.
The story also gets a little convoluted, but I enjoyed it. Jes Macallan and Sean Ferris don't have much time together on screen to show any chemistry, but there is some there.
This is not the most typical Hallmark romance, but it has some things in common with some of those that have revolved around the Amish.
The story also gets a little convoluted, but I enjoyed it. Jes Macallan and Sean Ferris don't have much time together on screen to show any chemistry, but there is some there.
Overall disappointing
GinaLeeII25 January 2024
All around unrealistic performances and casting choices, with no on-screen chemistry. A huge missed opportunity to tell and sell a story with potential. Flat, unconventional and unconvincing (over-acting) made it difficult to connect and hold the audience's interest. In particular; Daly's work was overshadowed by her deep need to be seen; she's trying too hard to steal the scene, so much so, her performance was a teaching moment on what not to do, what choices not to make and how crying on cue wasn't enough to touch the hearts of the audience. It was great to see McGillis on the big screen again, giving the audience a realistic performance; leaving us wanting more!
Collision of Beliefs
lwmtem27 March 2017
Warning: Spoilers
While the interchange use of Medic and Nurse throughout describing Grace's combat role which she was pulled away from her unit to help in a time of illness at her stateside home. It only matters that when neighbor Levi cried out to her for help, she quickly responded calling for medical assistance and helped save the life of a wounded mother at the farm next door and her unborn child as Levi's Step-Father lay dead on the floor having tried to save his family against the teachings of his religion Hard working Levi is dedicated to his family that had just seen the murder of his step-father and in direct at odds with the teachings of his Amish Bishop who is a strict on discipline and has shunned a part of Levi's family for marriage outside of their sect. Levi secretly reads books, which the Bishop forbids as they corrupt them. Yet a murderer is in the community and the sheriff is trying to locate them. While they conduct their manhunt, things disappear from Grace's mother's barn, Grace becomes aware that her sister may have been duped into participation with the wanted suspect.
Levi and Grace and bring them closer while she is in conflict about returning to the Army and her Army Unit half a world away, that Levi struggles with her roles in the Army where she aids people with guns, who use their guns for violence against mankind. As their friendship grows, the boundaries for Levi are clear and he knows friendship with an "English" woman is not proper for him.
Levi's mother recovers from wounds the Bishop considers shameful, The Bishop assigns his lovely daughter Zillah, who exhibits a stone cold knifing heart, to run Levi's household so not to include Levi's shunned side of his family. This gives Zillah leverage to force Levi to take her as his wife. Against all objections, she stays for a while. At night and dressed in a sleeping gown and robe, Zillah walks into Levi's room in the barn and catches him reading which she reports to her father that he was improper with her as well and the Bishop demands repentance and marriage to his daughter. Levi refuses.
A stray cow wanders over to Grace and she brings her back to Levi's that night. As rain falls, a gunshot rings out inside his house and they find that Levi's younger siblings found a gun and out of curiosity took it inside and accidentally shot a hole in the floor. Grace's sister had just became pen pals with someone who was just released from jail who seemingly had one of his fingerprints of a shell casing of the gun and the Sheriff's Department and his deputy renew their efforts to find him as their prime suspect.
Grace finds her sister in their barn aiding the escape of the suspect who is also followed by the Deputy who no longer find his once jailed employee useful and is about to plant the gun as evidence that a shootout caused the death of Grace and her sister and the Deputy shot back in self-defense. He just didn't count on Levi doing the uncommon!
Levi and Grace and bring them closer while she is in conflict about returning to the Army and her Army Unit half a world away, that Levi struggles with her roles in the Army where she aids people with guns, who use their guns for violence against mankind. As their friendship grows, the boundaries for Levi are clear and he knows friendship with an "English" woman is not proper for him.
Levi's mother recovers from wounds the Bishop considers shameful, The Bishop assigns his lovely daughter Zillah, who exhibits a stone cold knifing heart, to run Levi's household so not to include Levi's shunned side of his family. This gives Zillah leverage to force Levi to take her as his wife. Against all objections, she stays for a while. At night and dressed in a sleeping gown and robe, Zillah walks into Levi's room in the barn and catches him reading which she reports to her father that he was improper with her as well and the Bishop demands repentance and marriage to his daughter. Levi refuses.
A stray cow wanders over to Grace and she brings her back to Levi's that night. As rain falls, a gunshot rings out inside his house and they find that Levi's younger siblings found a gun and out of curiosity took it inside and accidentally shot a hole in the floor. Grace's sister had just became pen pals with someone who was just released from jail who seemingly had one of his fingerprints of a shell casing of the gun and the Sheriff's Department and his deputy renew their efforts to find him as their prime suspect.
Grace finds her sister in their barn aiding the escape of the suspect who is also followed by the Deputy who no longer find his once jailed employee useful and is about to plant the gun as evidence that a shootout caused the death of Grace and her sister and the Deputy shot back in self-defense. He just didn't count on Levi doing the uncommon!
A very long child-bearing period
mcpruden10 May 2022
Sean Faris and Jes Macallan were both born in 1982, therefore their characters, Levi and Grace in this movie, (released in 2017) would have been both 35-year-olds. If Levi were his mother's first-born, would she still be having a baby after 35 years?
I know that in some cultures, girls get married while still in their early teens, so it was quite possible Mrs. Miller had Levi when she was 15 or younger. But after 35 years, a period of widowhood, a second husband, and two small children later, she gave birth to her youngest. I don't know, but isn't 50 a bit too old to have another baby?
I like the movie very much; what with great characters, excellent cinematography, clever use of light-and-dark and color (you could almost tell what time of the day each scene happens), breathtaking landscapes, a rare look inside the Amish culture, and a cohesive storyline that incorporates both mystery and romance. On those points, movie is superb.
I would love to give it a higher than 7-star rating, but somehow, the matter of a post-menopausal mother giving birth to a baby bothers me.
I know that in some cultures, girls get married while still in their early teens, so it was quite possible Mrs. Miller had Levi when she was 15 or younger. But after 35 years, a period of widowhood, a second husband, and two small children later, she gave birth to her youngest. I don't know, but isn't 50 a bit too old to have another baby?
I like the movie very much; what with great characters, excellent cinematography, clever use of light-and-dark and color (you could almost tell what time of the day each scene happens), breathtaking landscapes, a rare look inside the Amish culture, and a cohesive storyline that incorporates both mystery and romance. On those points, movie is superb.
I would love to give it a higher than 7-star rating, but somehow, the matter of a post-menopausal mother giving birth to a baby bothers me.
This movie is a slander of the Swartzentruber Amish
steiner-sam23 June 2021
Warning: Spoilers
It is set in modern times in Kentucky in a Swartzentruber Old Order Amish community. It is a Hallmark Movies & Mystery Original. The Swartzentruber Amish are the most isolating Amish group.
Grace Conner (Jes Macallan) is an army nurse home from Afghanistan and deciding whether to re-enlist for another tour. Her grandmother, Elizabeth (Kelly McGillis), and sister Becky (Hil Horvath) live next to a Swartzentruber Amish farm. Grace left home after high school about 10 years earlier. In the meantime, Becky and her parents were killed in an auto accident, so Becky lives with Elizabeth.
Levi Troyer (Sean Faris), is a Swartzentruber Amish unmarried young adult. He comes home to find his stepfather, Abraham Miller, murdered on the floor, and his pregnant mother, Claire (Pamela Daly), wounded in the next room. He rushes to the Connor home, and Grace comes back to tend to the mother. Claire's two small children, Albert (Isaacs Kimbrough) and Sarah (Isabel Young), are sent to live temporarily with Claire's sister, Rose Fisher (Mary Tanner Bailey). Rose has been banned because she married a non-Swartzertruber Amish man, so Clair and Rose have not spoken in 10 years.
Sheriff Newsome (Robert Peters) and Deputy Small (Cory Scott Allen) come to initiate an investigation. It appears the murderer wanted money. A small-time drug dealer just released from prison, Owen Peterson (Neil Mulac), becomes a prime suspect.
The story progresses, and we watch a relationship develop between Levi and Grace. Levi is unusual because he loves to read and wants to expand his world. He also gets a forbidden cellphone in case of emergencies. Becky Connor is also acting strangely and often doesn't answer her cellphone. Antique items disappear from the shed on the Conner property.
The various mysteries unfold through the film. Bishop Weaver (Tom Luce) sends Rose away and tries to prevent Grace from interacting with Daniel and Claire. He also tries to get Levi to marry his daughter, Zillah (Emily Basso), who sees Levi as a prime catch.
In the end, the mysteries are all solved, and a romantic relationship develops as it should.
Frankly, this movie is a slander of the Swartzentruber Amish. No Amish bishop is as powerful as Bishop Weaver; a bishop is the leader of a team of ordained men. He does not make decisions on his own, much less order young men who to marry. It's not clear to me that reading books is a shunning offense even among the Swartzentrubers. Yes, the Swartzentrubers don't have reflective tape on their buggies, but they do use lanterns. Local non-Amish would know this and would not speed down Amish roads as Grace did.
On the other hand, the Swartzentrubers are not known for the very tidy farmyards and houses portrayed in this film, nor are they snappy dressers as some more "liberal" Amish. Levi, at most, could have a poor grade 8 education; his ability to relate to Grace defies belief.
Grace Conner (Jes Macallan) is an army nurse home from Afghanistan and deciding whether to re-enlist for another tour. Her grandmother, Elizabeth (Kelly McGillis), and sister Becky (Hil Horvath) live next to a Swartzentruber Amish farm. Grace left home after high school about 10 years earlier. In the meantime, Becky and her parents were killed in an auto accident, so Becky lives with Elizabeth.
Levi Troyer (Sean Faris), is a Swartzentruber Amish unmarried young adult. He comes home to find his stepfather, Abraham Miller, murdered on the floor, and his pregnant mother, Claire (Pamela Daly), wounded in the next room. He rushes to the Connor home, and Grace comes back to tend to the mother. Claire's two small children, Albert (Isaacs Kimbrough) and Sarah (Isabel Young), are sent to live temporarily with Claire's sister, Rose Fisher (Mary Tanner Bailey). Rose has been banned because she married a non-Swartzertruber Amish man, so Clair and Rose have not spoken in 10 years.
Sheriff Newsome (Robert Peters) and Deputy Small (Cory Scott Allen) come to initiate an investigation. It appears the murderer wanted money. A small-time drug dealer just released from prison, Owen Peterson (Neil Mulac), becomes a prime suspect.
The story progresses, and we watch a relationship develop between Levi and Grace. Levi is unusual because he loves to read and wants to expand his world. He also gets a forbidden cellphone in case of emergencies. Becky Connor is also acting strangely and often doesn't answer her cellphone. Antique items disappear from the shed on the Conner property.
The various mysteries unfold through the film. Bishop Weaver (Tom Luce) sends Rose away and tries to prevent Grace from interacting with Daniel and Claire. He also tries to get Levi to marry his daughter, Zillah (Emily Basso), who sees Levi as a prime catch.
In the end, the mysteries are all solved, and a romantic relationship develops as it should.
Frankly, this movie is a slander of the Swartzentruber Amish. No Amish bishop is as powerful as Bishop Weaver; a bishop is the leader of a team of ordained men. He does not make decisions on his own, much less order young men who to marry. It's not clear to me that reading books is a shunning offense even among the Swartzentrubers. Yes, the Swartzentrubers don't have reflective tape on their buggies, but they do use lanterns. Local non-Amish would know this and would not speed down Amish roads as Grace did.
On the other hand, the Swartzentrubers are not known for the very tidy farmyards and houses portrayed in this film, nor are they snappy dressers as some more "liberal" Amish. Levi, at most, could have a poor grade 8 education; his ability to relate to Grace defies belief.
What an awesome and new Hallmark movie!
huggibear12 April 2017
I liked Jes Macallan in this movie. I've never seen her in anything else and her eyes are so pretty. I love forward to seeing more of her. And the grandmother was none other than Kelly McGillis (from Top Gun). I didn't even notice that while I was watching the movie. I need to start looking at who is playing in the movies I watch these days so I can notice my old favorite actors and actresses. This was a different kind of movie. Thanks Hallmark for going beyond the normal romantic comedies/dramas and working on scripts that may be controversial. Perfecto!!
Quite enjoyable
missykxx8 May 2019
An Uncommon Grace was Excellent!
jenal-1355621 March 2017
This was a great movie it kept my interest all the way to the end because I was curious how the movie would end and it was very good, would love to see more movies like this where you can't tell how the movie is going to end! Those are the best movies! Hint Hint!
I love the cast too.
I love the cast too.
Just bad...
alexanderklymchuk7 April 2020
...in every way.
Bad acting, bad script, wrong and silly presentation of the amish culture, dumb traumatic war background (1 nightmare and then ... nothing else).
How deep could the great Kelly McGillys fall, from TOP GUN to this garbage?
If you have bad feelings after the first minutes, trust in what you feel, watch another movie. Or do something senseful, but don´t waste your time.
Just ... BAD!!!!!!!!!!
Bad acting, bad script, wrong and silly presentation of the amish culture, dumb traumatic war background (1 nightmare and then ... nothing else).
How deep could the great Kelly McGillys fall, from TOP GUN to this garbage?
If you have bad feelings after the first minutes, trust in what you feel, watch another movie. Or do something senseful, but don´t waste your time.
Just ... BAD!!!!!!!!!!
Strange and Cringy
abower12918 May 2020
Excellent!
toomuchsausage2 March 2017
I loved this movie so much, I will watch it again! I would have been so disappointed had the movie not ended the way it did.! I also spent the whole movie thinking the grandmother looked like Kelly McGillis, but I really didn't think it was her until I looked up the movie to deservingly rate it very high afterwards.
Embarrassing that they call this acting
GrammarMatters25 August 2018
I'm sorry - but the quality of the acting is what I would expect from high school students in their first attempt at acting - EVER!
I couldn't last more than 10 minutes TRYING to watch this. It just made me far TOO uncomfortable viewing this because the terrible, terrible acting kept jarring me out of the experience of watching the movie to remind me that I'm watching a cheap production.
I couldn't last more than 10 minutes TRYING to watch this. It just made me far TOO uncomfortable viewing this because the terrible, terrible acting kept jarring me out of the experience of watching the movie to remind me that I'm watching a cheap production.
Mystery, Romance and Drama--well done
patbiggam13 May 2020
I like Hallmark for many of its good, clean movies and especially those with a plausible story line. I appreciate the romance in this one which was more believable than the 24 hour 'this is the love of a lifetime' fare which is sometimes served up. I appreciated that this movie demonstrated that there are differing sects amongst the Amish each with its own rules and regulations and the tensions that can and do result--wisely and sensitively depicted. We also see the Amish at their best and yes, at their worst as well. It is in the context of their community, but it applies to us as well outside that community in our own contexts, causing one to reflect. It was heartening to see the main characters eventually sort out their place in their individual new normals. Loved Grace and her Amish beau. Beautifully acted by this pair.
Just started watching
autumnsmyfav18 June 2018
Good movie
taylornan22 January 2021
I really enjoyed this move, Sean Faris is one of my favorite actors and he did a wonderful job in this movie. This was my first time seeing Jes Macallan but she and Sean had great chemistry. I am not familiar enough with Amish ways to speak about the accuracy of their portrayal.
Good story, bad acting
juliefolden7 July 2021
I really wanted to love this movie. It was a new take on an old story line and the story itself was very good. Another refreshingly clean movie from Hallmark. Even though the story was great, the acting was stilted and seemed low budget for a Hallmark movie. Jes Macallan was amazing, and so was Kelly McGillis... which I didn't even realize was her until after the movie was over. But all the other actors seemed dry and rehearsed. I wish Hallmark would have put more backing into it as it could have been a 10. I have watched numerous Amish movies over the years, and I wish Sean Faris had too... the accent was awful and very distracting. And I didn't really feel any chemistry between Maccallan and Faris, so that didn't help either. Overall it was more enjoyable than most of the rude, crude, and over the top stuff that is out there today. A good break from the tedium of life. Just left with the wish that it could have been so much better!
A Sweet Romance with a Dash of Mystery
larkdeb11 July 2018
I really enjoyed this one. A little mystery, a little romance, a little light drama, all wrapped up in a Hallmark bow! Sincere, believable acting; gentle, loveable characters. I do wish, however, that Hallmark would take an extra few minutes to make the endings of their movies a little more realistic, and maybe not quite so typical and tidy.
Excellent film, if you suffer from insomnia.
rinodelvecchio22 November 2021
really good
jewelch3 March 2021
Nice variation of theme and plot
MickyG33312 May 2023
7.7 stars.
Grace is a military nurse who left her home and joined the military after her parents died. Her younger sister lives with her grandmother near an Amish community. Soon after Grace returns home from her tour of duty, there is a murder in one of the Amish homes. As the story continues, other suspicious things start to happen. Grace gets better acquainted with Levi, a handsome young Amish man who is very attracted to her. Eventually the feelings are mutual, however they are both swept into the mystery of the murder and other strange occurrences around the community.
Much of the film focuses on religious issues and how the Amish are to avoid society's influence even at the expense of logic and common sense. Levi tries to deal with his feelings for Grace and the pressure from the Bishop of the community for him to not cavort with "Englishers". Grace is working through her own personal struggles of whether to return to military duty, or stay in the community where she can be a support for her troubled sister and aging grandmother, and also explore her feelings for Levi.
As they grow closer, the mystery unravels before them and what takes place is quite unexpected. I think you'll like this fresh and off the beaten path story. Highly recommended.
Grace is a military nurse who left her home and joined the military after her parents died. Her younger sister lives with her grandmother near an Amish community. Soon after Grace returns home from her tour of duty, there is a murder in one of the Amish homes. As the story continues, other suspicious things start to happen. Grace gets better acquainted with Levi, a handsome young Amish man who is very attracted to her. Eventually the feelings are mutual, however they are both swept into the mystery of the murder and other strange occurrences around the community.
Much of the film focuses on religious issues and how the Amish are to avoid society's influence even at the expense of logic and common sense. Levi tries to deal with his feelings for Grace and the pressure from the Bishop of the community for him to not cavort with "Englishers". Grace is working through her own personal struggles of whether to return to military duty, or stay in the community where she can be a support for her troubled sister and aging grandmother, and also explore her feelings for Levi.
As they grow closer, the mystery unravels before them and what takes place is quite unexpected. I think you'll like this fresh and off the beaten path story. Highly recommended.
See also
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