From Sacrifice to Reconciliation, a Young Man Discovers His Heritage in The Grandfathers
The Grandfathers showcases both the burden and benefit of the Saint family’s legacy. Jesse Saint, Steve’s oldest son and Nate’s grandson, was not raised among the tribe like his father. He struggles to find his place under the weight of the memory of a famous grandfather he never knew and a heroic father he does not fully understand. This will all change after Jesse travels to the jungles of Ecuador with his family and gradually forms a special bond with Mincaye, one of the tribesmen who took part in his grandfather’s murder. Only then will he confront his family’s past and come to terms with his own destiny. And there he will find his place in this story.
The Grandfathers chronicles the personal quest for greater connectedness and significance. It is also a moving tribute to ordinary people living extraordinary lives in extreme situations. Jim Hanon, the film’s director, states, “Forgiveness is an awe-inspiring virtue that seems to have been passed on by the Saint family and is shared by many among the Waodani tribe—both demonstrate a profound capacity for forgiveness and healthy self-healing.”
Steve Saint consulted with Jim Hanon and Mart Green, EGM’s producer, to help bring the story of his father, Nate, to screen through the feature film End of the Spear and the companion documentary film Beyond the Gates of Splendor. These films trace events leading up to and including the deaths of these men. More than that, they show the impact these events played on the lives of both their survivors and their killers. When the widows and their children went to live among the Waodani—a tribe regarded as the most violent on earth—they became an integral part of an incredible redemptive journey.
The Grandfathers, completes a trilogy produced by EthnoGraphic Media (EGM) that includes End of the Spear and Beyond the Gates of Splendor. These first two films, also from award-winning director Jim Hanon and producer Mart Green, tell the unforgettable and inspiring story of the killing of five missionaries by a stone-age tribe deep in the Amazon jungle. The impact of this tragic event lives on today in families of these slain men as well as among those responsible for their deaths.
EGM is an educational nonprofit organization exploring the critical issues of our time through film and new media. It is a community of visionary writers, artists, and filmmakers that seeks to capture true stories of compelling virtue that speak to the human condition. Visit http://www.egmfilms.org/ .
MY THOUGHTS AND REVIEW:
Most people have heard about the gruesome murder of 5 missionaries (Nate Saint, Jim Elliot, Roger Youderian, Ed McCully, and Pete Fleming) in the jungles of Ecuador by the men from the Wadoni tribe, the tribe they tried to befriend. That tragedy happened in 1956, 22 years before Jesse Saint (Nate Saint's grandson/ Steve Saint's son) was born. The Grandfathers is a motion-graphics documentary that follows Jesse's journey from being indifferent to being impacted and then being very involved in the lives of the Wadoni people. He grew up in the shadow of his famous grandfather and his revered great aunt, Rachel (Nate Saint's sister who continued Nate's missionary work in Ecuador and spent 36 years with the Wadoni Tribe until her death in 1994), who was well loved by the Wadoni. When he was 16, his father moved the family to live with the Wadoni upon their request. Imagine the challenges and the adjustment! My 17 yo daughter and I enjoyed watching this film and laughed a lot. I know the subject matter is serious but the narrator and the interviews presented many funny moments. You have to see it to understand what I'm talking about :). By the way, I would not recommend this film for kids younger than 13 because there are some disturbing scenes/descriptions.
Jesse Saint's life made a huge turn after developing friendships with Mincaye and two other old men who took part in spearing his grandfather to death. From being heartless killers to becoming joyful, friendly people who love to laugh! It's a beautiful testimony of Christ's love, the power of forgiveness, heart transformation, and reconciliation. No one is beyond God's grace and His redemption through Christ's blood! Not even the most violent tribe on earth! Jesse Saint lost one grandfather and as a result, he gained three grandfathers.
Note: Please turn off my music playlist at the bottom of this page before starting the trailer.
~ I received a free copy of this DVD from The B&B Media Group in exchange of my honest review.
I saw a link to this at the bottom of your FFF post and thought the man looked like Mincaye, so I had to click over. I have followed this story for year, since college. I LOVED Beyond the Gates of Splendor and am so happy to see this film! I'm going to look it up now.
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