Mrs. Worthington's Party

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.

Am I the only one who thinks Mr. Wall looks like Mr. Redford? The film was very well done. I enjoyed it. I also love that it was a family project.

Awesome film!! My wife and I saw it in Florida at the Lauderdale Film Festival. The most amazing story of redemption I've ever seen. It was mysterious and romantic and hilarious. The ending took my breath away. Apparently the writer/director David Wall also played the lead role of Father Jonathan Keene. We thought he was great, my wife thought he looked like a young Robert Redford. Wall's wife in real life played the role of Marjorie Worthington. She was perfect, very classy lady. Apparently their daughter plays the title role of Noelle. What a hauntingly beautiful little girl. This movie will stay with you. Can't wait for it to open as I want to take my parents and our kids. I imagine there may be some controversy among religious folks over this one as Wall plays a Catholic priest but I applaud him for his courage in portraying a priest as a real human being, as a man grappling with his faith. We think this one will be a classic.

This is a wonderful holiday movie. Highly recommend!

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.