“So faith, hope, love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love” (1 Cor 13:13).
By Julia Rose
In 1920, North Dakota experienced one of its worst blizzards, killing 34 people. During this multi-day emergency, three siblings, Hazel, Emmet, and Myrdith Miner, disappeared into the snow for more than 24 hours.
The dramatic and moving true story is told in “Hazel’s Heart,” written and directed by Daniel Bielinski and distributed by Samuel Goldwyn Films.
Beginning Dec. 18, the film will be available exclusively on SVOD on Angel. It will then be available on video on demand (VOD) from Dec. 23 on Apple TV, Amazon, Google Play/YouTube Movies, Fandango-At-Home, Versant, Vubiquity, and DirecTV/AT&T.
Gone in an instant
“I don’t know if I’m strong,” Hazel (Madelyn Dundon) tells her mother, Blanche (Laurie Fortier), worried that she doesn’t have the confidence to realize her dream as a schoolteacher. Little does she know that her fears will soon be intensified.
Heavy snow is falling, but the children are sent off to school anyway. As the storm intensifies, their father, William (Stelio Savante), arrives in his horse-drawn sled to collect Hazel, Emmet (Xavier Bielinski), and Myrdith (Genevieve Bielinski).
In a flash, the sled takes off into the whiteout, leaving father behind. The children have vanished.
“Hazel’s Heart” effectively conveys the terror of the situation as the children fight to rein in the horse as they plunge further and further into the whiteout. With barely any food and minimal supplies to keep them warm but for their winter coats, the Miner children have no idea where they are.
Luckily for Emmet and Myrdith, they have their sister, who instills hope along the way, encouraging them to have faith. As Hazel brainstorms how to get them back to safety and experiences despair as many of her plans falling apart, her resilience and strength are put to the test.
Never lose hope
In one particularly moving moment, Hazel tells her sister, “You know why I’m not afraid? Because our Father in Heaven is watching over us right now. Did you know that? He gave us this great sled to take shelter in. He gave us this blanket. … He gave us each other.”
As we close out the Jubilee Year of Hope, “Hazel’s Heart” is a beautiful film for families to watch together this Advent and Christmas season and be reminded of how we must persevere in love and in hope. Regardless of the insecurities we may have and the trials we may face, God is always there for us to give us strength as long as we keep our faith alive.
For more information, visit www.HazelMovie.com.
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