Mrs. Worthington's Party

I stumbled across this after watching "It's A Wonderful Life" on Prime. Came up as a recommendation. I'm a fan of Christmas films and Faith/Family film in general.

What a great film, depicting people of faith as they really are! Not a film for those who want to see a sugar coated version of the Christian life, but one that shows struggles faced by all people.

Hats off to David Wall for writing and directing such a compelling Film!

Until the little girl whispers in David Wall's ear.

I was coming down with a cold last Saturday, and I didn't want to be bothered with anything other than streaming something to take my mind off my rapidly-filling sinuses.

On Prime Video, the ad for David Wall's indie film "Noelle" caught my attention because it didn't look anything like the 87 other Hallmark love-amongst-the-fake-snow wallows. My wife and I watched it, and we couldn't figure out if the movie was supposed to be in the Maritimes, Wales, or some alternate-reality state in our Union.

Noelle is a dry, somewhat humorous, and confusing joy. I sat there harumphing at the infuriating main characters' inability to seal the deal, to get me to buy totally into the story and suspend disbelief. Yet, I stuck with it, and as the story of a diocesan hatchet-man who is sent to close down a tiny-town parish church and finds out he really shouldn't be a priest unfolds, I began to appreciate the deeply-embraced Catholicism of the movie. The idea that a man can be a priest and despise the transactional humanity of his ministry is so foreign to me that I had to see how this movie, made for what appeared to be about a $143, resolved the large and small conflicts.

I wasn't sure if I could say I liked Noelle until the little girl whispered in the priest's ear. All of a sudden I had to grab a paper towel.

And it wasn't to mop up snot.

This is a wonderful holiday movie. Highly recommend!

I agree with all of the positive things I've seen in the other comments. This is such a quality work. I wasn't 100% sold on the Father Simeon performance, but I still enjoyed him.

I didn't see it as anti-Catholic mainly because there are only two representatives of the church in the movie. They are clearly meant to represent two uncommon extremes. There is a business side to ministry and that can easily come off as cold or harsh, but this movie is about the character. He is cold and harsh. Those are the characteristics that lead him to the position he holds.

Besides, are we to believe that there are no men in the ministry such as these? Are we to believe that everything is so perfect in the church (any church) that there is no room for criticism? I agree that the movie could have been set in any denomination, but who has prettier sets than the Catholics? I can only accuse this movie of being honest.

Who ever changed the title should have stuck with the original title, Mrs Worthington's Party. It's an unfortunate renaming because titlling it Noelle may be confused with the Disney movie Noelle with Shirley MacLaine. Having said that, the lead actor, David Wall, playing Father Keene, bares a stunning resemblance to a young Robert Redford; his hair, his front teeth, the jawline - and his acting ability! I'm surprised David Wall is not in more mainstream/famous movies - he exudes lead actor, and his acting is a joy to watch. Surprisingly, his Wikipedia page is sparse. Back to the movie, David Wall as Father Keene is the reason I stuck it out with this movie. There are a lot of likable and quirky characters, along with a love story, that fill and complete this movie. And the snowy location is charming. But David Wall is the stellar actor in this performance and makes this version of Noelle worth watching.