The Blessing Bracelet

I came to this film because it stars Amanda Schull, a delightful actress whose career I have followed since she first appeared in film, playing Jody in "Center Stage". Here, she plays Dawn, a divorced mother with a son, who is facing foreclosure on the family home. She is desperately looking for a second job, hoping to pull herself out of the financial morass that her ex-husband left her.

This Hallmark film leaves little doubt about its main theme. The word "believe" runs all through the dialogue. It leans heavily on a faith-based approach to life, as symbolized by the church. But the primary lesson Dawn learns is to believe in herself; and that belief allows her to stop dwelling on the past and doubting her future.

The story is good for the Easter season-another religious aspect of the film. But the holiday of Easter arose from pagan traditions that celebrated the vernal equinox and the renewals of Spring, the hope for rebirth and fertility.

There is a romance within this story. It develops rather routinely, along Hallmarkian lines. It even includes the eleventh hour conflict that threatens the romance. Does anyone else think many of these conflicts are dubious at best?

Besides the theme of "belief", there are other reminders to celebrate and give small gifts. That, in itself, is another good reason to enjoy this touching film.