Least Among You [Import]

The Least among You is the true story of Richard Kelly, a young African-American man in the mid-60's. It follows the story of his experience in an all-white seminary, and the struggles that entail. It is a story filled with trials and hardship, and ultimately triumphs.

I would hesitate to consider this movie "Christian", as it has some negative elements. The faith of the Christian characters, such as the seminary staff and the main character is questionable. There are some negative elements in the lives of the staff that are unexplained and that they seem to be hopeless about.

Although it was a very interesting and encouraging story, the acting seemed weak at some points. It was a little hard to follow the story-line throughout the movie, as it was slow-moving. The dialogue in some places was awkward and seemed forced. Unfortunately, it was a disappointing movie as it did not keep my attention. I would probably not recommend this movie to anyone.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the [...] <[...]> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255 <[...]> : "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

We are a bit disappointed with this movie. Not that the story isn't good because it is based on a true story. But somehow, there are a lot of question marks in our head after we viewed it.

I find that the acting could have been better. And there are a lot of things that happens in the movie that you wonder where that come from. I guess if the movie would have been a bit longer like 2 hours for example, we wouldn't have these questions in our mind.

Needless to say, the message is strong. As Christians we are called to stand up for what is right. And this is exactly what I got from the movie. Justice is important and Christians should avoid manipulating the truth just to get what they want. (If you watch the movie you'll see what I am talking about...) Integrity is also an important part of our life as a Christian. If you are manipulative and twist the truth, if you try to bribe someone it will get back to you somehow.

I think it was good that Richard Kelly will stand up for what is going on in the seminary. It takes a lot of courage and willingness to face discrimination and pursue your destiny even going to the point of letting your dream go. I particularly like the role of Samuel Benton - the gardener in the basement. I find that he was a good example of what a Christian is to his protégé - Richard.

The scene that touched me the most was when Richard finds Kate Allison on the roof and speak with her about hearing God`s voice. Both together shared what God told them - she when she faced the coffins, him not too long ago. And interestingly enough, what he heard from God is a comfort for her. I thought this scene was beautiful.

This movie is about the call that God has for leaders. Sometimes, we might have the tendency to fight against this call. But it is better to go with the flow and follow God's lead.

This review was possible because I received the DVD of The Least Among You from Thomas Nelson.

People often argue that leaders are either born or made. This movie takes a different stance and argues that leaders are chosen. Inspired by a true story, this movie tells the story of Richard Kelly who is the first African American to attend an all-white seminary in 1965. Forced to give up a life-changing career in computer technology, he is court ordered to attend this school in which he received a full scholarship from the dean. Richard suffers through many hard times at the school, but the Dean and a fell African American maintenance man guide him and coach him to becoming a leader within the school. In this story, Richard was chosen to be a leader for the school to move them forward and break down the race barriers that previously existed there.

Although this is a slow movie, it offers great lessons in leadership and acceptance. It is more likely to be a film used in classrooms than in box offices and may require some discussions with younger students in order for them to understand the importance of Richard's actions and leadership trials.
Recommendation

If you are looking for some videos on leadership or diversity, I would recommend adding this one to your collection. However, if you're looking for an entertaining movie I would move on to something that has a little faster pace.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this DVD free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com <http://BookSneeze.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255 [...] : 'Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.'