sister. The movie was directed by Bridget Smith, a parishioner of Saint Bridget University Parish, Glassboro. (Courtesy photos)
Faithful interested in a fresh film highlighting the true meaning of Christmas are in for a treat thanks to a new release featuring a local writer, a Glassboro director and dozens of familiar spots and brands.
“Finding Christmas” tells the story of Mikey Finnegan, a disheartened teen who loses faith when tragedy strikes his family. On Christmas Eve, he sustains a head injury and, in a “Wizard of Oz”-like fashion, he is taken back in time to Bethlehem on the night Jesus was born, said Bridget Smith, the film’s director and a resident of Glassboro. “To get back home, he must go on a treacherous journey to find the Baby Jesus and look into his eyes. On this journey, he meets a teen girl [Celestina] and her little sister [Alesha] and soon discovers the true meaning of Christmas, sacrifice and love.”
Smith, of Saint Bridget University Parish, teamed up with writer Mike Walsh for the film, which was produced by Philly Born Films and debuted through video on demand in October.
Walsh recalls sitting in his Philadelphia parish church watching children set up for an annual Passion play when he thought about “The Passion of the Christ” movie, and inspiration struck.
“I thought about Christmas and how there wasn’t really a mainstream movie that captured the true essence of Christmas,” he said. “I decided that day that I would write a Christmas movie that the average family could relate to and be inspired by.”
The film is packed with local cast, crew and celebrities, as well as more than 30 iconic locations and brands from the South Jersey and Philadelphia regions – including Chickie’s & Pete’s, Mister Softee, Liscio’s Bakery, Geno’s Steaks, Di Bruno Bros, the Mummers Museum and more.
Walsh noted his measure of success for the film.
“If Finding Christmas” can help people believe that the true meaning of Christmas is faith and love, then it will be a success,” he said, encouraging faithful to see the movie. “If you want to watch a fun, uplifting movie with the whole family that reinforces the importance of faith in our lives, then ‘Finding Christmas’ is for you.”
Smith was born and raised in South Philadelphia and is a product of Catholic schools. She noted that there are so many Christmas movies about Santa Claus, or films that include Christmas merely as a backdrop, but not many that delve into its true meaning.
“It’s a beautiful story and I feel blessed to have been a part of it,” she said. “On the surface, ‘Finding Christmas’ is a sweet, beautiful love story between Mikey and Celestina. But on a deeper level, for all of us, it is a love story between us, God, family and each other. It is a movie that reiterates the importance of having faith in our lives.”
She added that the movie also highlights the importance of celebrating the love around every person during the holiday season.
“We need more movies like this,” she said. “It simply allows you to see the world through the eyes of one teen boy who has forgotten what really matters in life.”
Like Walsh, Smith shared her hope that viewers might walk away with a reminder about the true meaning of Christmas – and that they might share it with others.
“Share the idea that the best gift you can give another person is your love,” she said. “It’s such a simple message, and yet so many of us forget it.”
Finding Christmas is available through video on demand; viewers can watch the film through Amazon or Fandango at Home.
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