Christmas in Canaan (2009)

DJ and Rodney don't like each other from the start. Rodney thinks DJ is an ignorant white farm boy, and DJ thinks Rodney acts too smart for his own good. After a school bus scuffle between ... See full summary »

Director:

Neill Fearnley

Writers:

Donald Davenport (teleplay), Kenny Rogers (book),

Stars:

Billy Ray Cyrus, Tom Heaton, Jaishon Fisher

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Billy Ray Cyrus	...	Daniel Burton
Tom Heaton	...	Wylie
Jaishon Fisher	...	Young Rodney
Zak Ludwig	...	Young DJ
Jessica McLeod	...	Young Sarah (as Jessica Mcleod)
Darien Provost	...	Young Bobby
Candus Churchill	...	Eunice
Tom McBeath	...	Carl (as Tom Mcbeath)
Matt Ward	...	Older Rodney
Jacob Blair	...	Older DJ
Emily Tennant	...	Older Sarah
Brendan Meyer	...	Older Bobby
Julian Christopher	...	Shoup (as Julian D. Christopher)
Paul Herbert	...	Clancey
Rukiya Bernard	...	Charlene

Storyline

DJ and Rodney don't like each other from the start. Rodney thinks DJ is an ignorant white farm boy, and DJ thinks Rodney acts too smart for his own good. After a school bus scuffle between the two, DJ's father and Rodney's grandmother come up with a clever solution that brings the boys closer than either of them would like. Living in Canaan, Texas in the 1960's does not make it easy for a black boy and a white boy to forge a friendship. It is only amid the magic of an unforgettable Christmas that DJ and Rodney discover a land of milk and honey where hope and love make all the difference.

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Plot Keywords:

boy | 1960s | christmas | texas | farm | 

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Genres:

Drama | Family

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

12 December 2009 (USA)

Also Known As:

Au nom de l'amitié

Filming Locations:

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Company Credits

Production Co:

Hallmark Channel, The, Bauman Entertainment, Canadian Film or Video Production Tax Credit (CPTC)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

86 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Canaan, Texas is a small town northeast of Denton, Texas, near the Oklahoma border.

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Connections

Followed by Christmas Comes Home to Canaan (2011)

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Soundtracks

"Christmas Angel"
Performed by Brain Glenn
Written by Alicia King
Courtesy of Marc Ferrari / Mastersource

User Reviews

Great family film with a wonderful message!

I was so privileged to be invited to attend an advanced screening of this film and absolutely loved it! It's such a breath of fresh air to know that quality content like this is going to be on TV.

Billy Ray was absolutely wonderful as the dad, and the kids all did a great job as well, I thought.

For those of you that haven't read it, I also recommend checking out the book after you watch the movie this weekend :) It's a very easy read, extremely touching and has a great message.

I recommend this movie to everyone...young and old...I think we can all learn something from it!