Bill (David Strathairn) is a pillar of his Southern community: a business owner, a veteran, and the proud patriarch of an unruly but loving family. His daughter Patti (Anna Camp) has returned home after the collapse of her marriage, while his son David (Will Pullen) struggles to stay afloat. He has brought David into the family business, but harbors doubts about his discipline and commitment. Bill gravitates towards Tammy (Jane Levy), his daughter-in-law and the only other person in his rambunctious household who values contemplation and repose. When Bill begins to suspect that David may be straying from his marital vows with a coworker (Dascha Polanco), the father must confront the perplexing inscrutability of his son’s choices and their consequences for the rest of the family. A heart-tugging drama about finding kindred spirits in unexpected places, A LITTLE PRAYER is a sensitive and searching portrait of an American family from writer-director Angus MacLachlan.
“As in his screenplay for JUNEBUG, the film that put him on the map as a film writer and made Amy Adams a star, the setting for this comparatively restrained tale of family secrets is North Carolina — specifically, MacLachlan’s hometown of Winston-Salem…The emotional impact of A LITTLE PRAYER doesn’t so much detonate as unfold, a series of quiet epiphanies, well-observed and elegant in their awkward yearning.” —Sheri Linden, Hollywood Reporter “A welcome throwback to adult-oriented movie fare of yore like ON GOLDEN POND, FRIED GREEN TOMATOES, or PASSION FISH. Shot in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, this little miracle of a film features a strong ensemble cast, mordant Southern humor, and sharp insights into the perils and comforts of loving with your whole heart.” —Marya E. Gates, The Playlist
