Beyond the Blackboard

My wife asked me to watch this movie with her last night and I'm glad she did. This was a very well done movie. All the actors did a great job especially Emily VanCamp as Stacey Bess. The child actors they got for this movie also did a very good job. I became very interested in the children and what their story was. And to probably be expected some were pretty sad. It was interesting to find out what happens to them during the movie. And as in all Hallmark movies there are some moments that tug at your heartstrings! And moments where you get a smile on your face. This was a story that I wasn't aware of so you could learn something from this movie as well as just get some enjoyment from it. A good choice for the family to watch.

In this fact-based Hallmark Hall of Fame presentation, Stacey is 24 years old in 1987 and fresh out of college. She has wanted to be a teacher since she was a little girl. In flashbacks, we see her as a little girl who has to listen to her father yell at her mother, but other than that we don't know the specifics of why her early life was not pleasant. Then at 16 she becomes pregnant and drops out of school. Still, she married the father, Greg, and earned her GED, then graduated from college, all while raising not one but two children.

Stacey is interviewed by the head of human resources for the Salt Lake City schools (Timothy Busfield), who has one opening for her--a school for the homeless. It turns out to be much worse than she imagined: a dump of a warehouse which is also the homeless shelter, with no textbooks or real desks for the students who cover a wide range of ages and abilities, or anything to make it look like a real school. Every time a train passes it's like an earthquake. The substitute teacher she is replacing can't wait to get out of the place. There is a class pet--sort of.

But the kids are no worse than kids in any other inner-city school, and most of the homeless are really nice to Stacey. One exception is Candy, who doesn't understand her kids should be in school so they can improve their status in life. After the first day, though, Stacey has only one incentive to stay at this dump. She doesn't want her own children to see her quit. So she perseveres, finally getting through to the school children and really teaching them instead of just babysitting. But the real challenge is dealing with the bureaucracy--she has no actual principal, and no one wants to take responsibility for anything.

Eventually, Stacey gets Dr. Warren to listen, and things improve. Some of the homeless people assist Stacey in her efforts, and one is so good at his job he can be paid for it. Still, other challenges are ahead in this environment.

There is an additional complication in Stacey's life that has nothing to do with her job, but it's just a challenge that adds to the others. She won't give up.

This was a really good movie, though one possible criticism is the fact that these kids were too ideal. And Stacey's own children are too perfect to be believed. But the movie is based on fact, and maybe this is the way it was.

Another omission: at the end the real Stacey Bess was introduced, and she mentioned prayer. Not once was a specific religious faith brought up in this movie. Was this an effort to be "politically correct" and not single out one faith over others?

Emily VanCamp does a very good job. She looks so much like Melissa Gilbert that she seemed familiar, even though I don't really know her. The real Stacey Bess looked very much like Kiersten Warren, an actress playing one of the homeless parents. Still, Warren is much older than Stacey is supposed to be here, and she was well suited for a tough, more street-smart character.

All the leading actors were very good. I would single out Paola Nicole Andino as Maria, a sixth-grader intending to be a teacher but dealing with challenges. Also Liam McKanna as Danny, who goes from Stacey's worst discipline problem (but hardly anything to write home about) to one of the class leaders and a child with lots of potential.

It was worthy of the name Hallmark Hall of Fame.

I've seen Beyond The Blackboard a couple of times now and each time it has proved to be an enjoyable watch.

While films about inspirational teachers getting the best out of wayward children are pretty common what separates this one from the rest is the heart and strength of the script behind it. It goes against the normal cliché's and this makes for a better film.

It is helped by the fact that Emily Van Camp (better known to many as Emily in Revenge and Amy in the dearly missed Everwood) gives a great performance as Stacey and is supported by some good performances from the young children playing her pupils. Fans of the formerly mentioned Everwood will like the sight of Van Camp working with Treat Williams again and their chemistry shines through in the limited scenes they have together. It is also nice to see Cal from Studio 60 (aka Timothy Busfield) also appear in this above average TV movie.

This movie is fantastic. If you have an opportunity please watch it. I typically watch the romantic hallmark movies but today I decided on this.

I have always loved Emily Van Camp. From Everwood to revenge to The Resident. She is perfectly cast. The man who plays her husband (I'm blanking on his name) but he hasn't had a big role in much but I saw him in Girlfriends Guide to Divorce and he was good in a very different role. All of the children were really good. And the other adult actors were all fantastic. Nobody was overacting too much like you get in a lot of Hallmark movies.

Everything from cinematography, set, music, direction etc is fabulous.

Obviously the best part of the movie is the inspiration. What taking pride in your things and space and having faith in others can really build them and change lives and put people on a better path than the one they may have been dealt.

I found it through my Hallmark Subscription on Amazon Prime. If you come across it, I'd highly suggest watching it.

Grab kleenex! This movie was wonderful! ALMOST MADE ME CRY because of the joy I felt. It always warms my heart to see others, helping others and giving their all. If you like heartfelt movies, this one is it! Very thankful for their movies to make us feel something and want to do better and give of ourselves! James Welch Henderson, Arkansas 2/14/2021

This movie is about the heart and compassion of newly graduated teacher who had the heart to make a difference in the lives of homeless students and their parents. The beauty of it, is she never treated them any less than anyone else. She treated them with respect, love and compassion. In turn, the students and parents learned to trust, be involved in their children education, learned to read and the students thrived.

The moral of the movie... It only takes one act of kindness and the continuation to show up each day to make a difference. In turn, others will do the same. Any child can learn and be great students, they just need someone to believe in them and show up!