Susan, after hearing her son John say, “I want to live,” tells him, “Then you’re going to fight — fight like you’ve never fought before and take God’s hand and walk with Him —and Daddy and I are going to be with you every step of the way.”
By Julia Rose
“The most powerful weapon on earth is the human soul on fire.” — Marshal Ferdinand Foch
At just 9 years old, after enduring horrific burns across his entire body and given no chance for survival, John O’Leary made a choice: I want to live. After watching the powerful new autobiographical film “Soul on Fire,” it’s clear he has.
Opening in cinemas on Oct. 10 and rated PG, “Soul on Fire” from Affirm Films is an inspirational story for the entire family that demonstrates the power of living a life of courage and faith while serving others along the way.
Horrific accident
Directed by Sean McNamara, well-known for the films “Soul Surfer” and “The Miracle Season,” this adaptation of O’Leary’s 2016 memoir On Fire: The 7 Choices to Ignite a Radically Inspired Life, provides a wonderful glimpse into his life and legacy. Joel Courtney, popular as the lead in “Jesus Revolution,” excellently portrays the vast emotions John navigates as he grapples with the aftermath of a horrific accident (its graphic depiction may upset younger viewers).
As John is prepped for his first emergency surgery, we witness his family’s fear and heartbreak. We see the absolute strength of his mother, Susan (Stephanie Szostak), who after hearing John say, “I want to live,” tells him, “Then you’re going to fight — fight like you’ve never fought before and take God’s hand and walk with Him —and Daddy and I are going to be with you every step of the way.”
Baseball fans will recall the pivotal role of legendary St. Louis Cardinals’ broadcaster Jack Buck (William H. Macy), who hears about John’s accident and visits him throughout his time in the hospital, giving him hope that he will make it through this difficult time.
Healing process
Coming from a background in healthcare, I was especially touched by the film’s depiction of healthcare workers at their best. When so many of those around John lose faith that he will survive, believing it is less than 1 percent, his nurse, Roy (DeVon Franklin), urges him on. “You will walk again,” she says, “but don’t worry. I’ll walk with you.”
And walk he does. As the timeline shifts from childhood to adulthood, we witness not only the healing process but the long-term impact the accident has on John’s relationships and mission in life. Through vulnerable moments between John and his close friend Beth (Masey McLain) as well as his father (John Corbett), we see him begin to face how deeply the fire has impacted his struggles with his image and feelings of unworthiness.
“To move through the adversities of life, we must have a reason to thrive that is bigger than all the challenges we face,” John tells a crowd some 40 years later. “My purpose is simple because God demands it. Because my family deserves it. Because the world is starved for it.”
After watching “Soul on Fire,” your soul will be called to live a life of purpose too, enflamed by the love of God, family, and community.
To learn more, visit SoulOnFireMovie.com.
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