The Gift of Peace

This is the first time I've ever felt a Hallmark film deserved a 10 rating! Having lost our spouses 20 years ago and meeting at a bereavment group, both myself and my wife had tears in our eyes throughout this film. The story was so familiar to both of us. Trying to overcome the loss of someone you thought you'd spend the rest of your life with was devestating. Going to the meetings with others we could identify with was very helpful since neither family or close friends could. We both were leary at first to open up at the meetings, just as Nikki's character was. Then when she was in a situation with Brendan's character where they were actually having fun, she had these guilt feelings. My wife and I could identify with these exact feelings.

Finally, in the end they both realize, as our priest told us, life is for the living. This movie hit every nerve in our bodies and made us remember all those feelings we had of never being able to move on, Yet somehow, we found each other and have enjoyed a wonderful life together. This was the best Hallmark film.

The true Hallmark has returned with this one!! Finally a heart warming family oriented Christmas movie about faith, hope and dreams. A real life story of life, how to deal with life after losing someone in your life. Nikki has out done herself in her performance, last year was "Five Minutes More" and now "Gift of Peace"! Nice to see how 5 grieving people open up and move on with life. As a Christian it's nice to see Hallmark the true meaning of the holidays to life. Bringing God into real life movies with prayer and dreams makes this a heart warming movie. Thank you Nikki and Hallmark for this wonderful gift!!

For anyone expecting a Hallmark romcom, this is NOT a Hallmark romcom. It's most definitely a drama, and for the most part a very depressing drama.

It centers around a grief therapy group, so all your principal characters are in grief and haven't recovered from their loss, including the man who leads the group.

We've liked both leads in other movies, and they do a good job with this, but be ready to be sad for two hours. Even the romantic solution at the end doesn't do much to lift your spirits.

For those who, in particular, have lost a close spouse, this movie is more likely to mire you back into that experience, I'd think, than anything else. We found it sad and neither my wife nor I have lost a spouse.

So, you're fairly warned.

7.0 stars.

I rate these Hallmark movies based on specific criteria, most of which this movie does not attempt in any way to measure up. This is solely about grief, and loss of a loved one. If you've ever gone to grief share meetings, or the like, and you've lost a spouse, friend, parent, child, sibling, or even a beloved pet - seeing this may be a good experience for you. I lost my mom about 5 months ago. Nothing mends the soul but God and time.

This movie is rated 7.0 simply because it's a blessed thing. It is a capably made film, meets all the basic standards. There is no romance, no comedy, nothing like that. It is 100% unadulterated hope and 'The Gift of Peace' for those who need it.

This is a film with a message about grief, loss and faith. There is a heavy Christian message, so forewarned if that message will bother you.

It tells the story of a painter named Traci who's husband passed away two years prior. Not only was he her husband but her painting partner as well. As her father said, they complemented each other. Traci, her family and friends all had faith and prayed for her husband's brain surgery to be successful. When it wasn't, Traci became angry, stopped praying, stopped going to church and almost gave up on her painting career.

Traci's friend and manager advises her to attend her church's support group. The support group is small and consists of the leader, an elderly woman who lost her husband who was the Santa Claus to her Mrs. Claus, a younger woman whose mom and fellow choir member passed, and a young man whose grandmother passed leaving him her baking business which didn't go well with his family.

This is all about having a safe space to talk or not talk...but most importantly to know what you are feeling is ok. What a wonderful message. I cried and cried, but it was good.

I recommend this to anyone who has experienced loss. It was quite lovely.