‘Ordinary Angels’ scores with critics and filmgoers, shows power of faith-focused cinema

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A decades-old story of neighbors helping neighbors is a surprise hit with movie critics and theater-goers, while its producer credits rocker Dave Matthews, “Elf” producer John Berg and distributor Lionsgate with nudging “Ordinary Angels” onto the screen.

The drama stars two-time Oscar winner Hilary Swank and Alan Ritchson, noted for his starring role in the Amazon Prime series “Reacher,” centers on the Schmitt family of Louisville, Kentucky. Ed Schmitt (Mr. Ritchson’s character) was raising two daughters on his own — each facing serious illness.

The film also demonstrates the attractiveness of a faith-focused film to general audiences: Released in late February, the movie has been a hit with audiences and critics. The Rotten Tomatoes website reports the movie had positive comments from 85% of movie critics, and a highly impressive 99% positive score from audiences, both rare for a faith-based movie. 

At the box office, it’s taken in $16.1 million in three weeks, and is currently in more movie theaters than the much-hyped “Madam Web” superhero movie, according to the BoxOfficeMojo.com website.

Each of the girls — Ashley, age 5 in 1994, the year the story takes place, and Michelle, 3 years old — were born with biliary atresia, which blocks the liver’s bile ducts and leads to deficiencies in liver function.

The girls each needed transplants — a major expense and an operation that could not be performed locally. The nearest facility that could help was 600 miles away in Omaha, Nebraska, where Ashley had received a transplant in 1991.

Making matters more difficult for the Schmitts was the death of Ed’s wife, Theresa, in August 1992 from Wegener’s disease, also known as granulomatosis. The rare condition inflames blood vessels in the nose, sinuses, throat, lungs and kidneys.

Enter Sharon Stevens, portrayed by Ms. Swank, a hairdresser with a generous heart who attended the Southeast Christian Church in Louisville.

She “just really wanted to be a source of encouragement and to serve a family who she had never met before,” Pastor Dave Stone, who was an assistant pastor at the church when the story unfolded, said in a telephone interview.

“Sharon just felt this compulsion to help out this family where a woman had passed away leaving behind the husband and two [girls],” Mr. Stone said. “She just started going everywhere in the community trying to raise money from different entities and people.”

That money went for medical care and trips to the Omaha hospital. On Jan. 17, 1994, Ed received the phone call he’d long hoped for: a donor liver was available for Michelle. But they had to get to the hospital that day or lose the opportunity.

Ms. Stevens had raised funds for a private jet to take the family to Omaha, but a snowstorm that dumped 17 inches of powder on Louisville closed airports and made highway travel impossible. The only hope: Clearing a 100-square-foot space in the Southeast Christian Church parking lot for a helicopter to airlift the patient.

The work of the “ordinary angels” who were members of Southeast Christian Church and others to clear that area is the peak moment in the film. But Ms. Stevens’ resolve and Mr. Schmitt’s response to having strangers reach out and help the family are key elements in the storyline.

According to Andy Erwin, a producer of the film, that it attracted an actress such as Ms. Swank is notable.

“The idea of doing faith films has become less and less of a stigma,” Mr. Erwin said in a telephone interview. “Bigger talent is coming to the table and they’re not afraid of it because it’s really been normalized in recent years.”

He credited the persistence of alternative rock musician Dave Matthews for championing the story “for years,” which brought it to the attention of “Elf” producer John Berg and Lionsgate studios. The studio, in turn, brought it to Mr. Erwin, saying he needed to “take a look at it.”

The rest, as they say, is motion picture history.

Mr. Erwin said that for Ms. Swank, “one thing that grabbed her was the organ donation side of the story, because I believe her father is an organ recipient. It hit home for her, as she’s like, ‘I’m doing this movie no matter what,’ and she was just really, really passionate about it, she poured herself into this character.”

Alan Ritchson “is a person of faith” who “talks a lot about his faith on his YouTube channel. … Alan’s the real deal; he really has a real faith and that is very authentic. He’s looking for opportunities to express that,” Mr. Erwin said.