“Unsung Hero,” a new movie from the studio responsible for “Jesus Revolution,” tells the true story about the family behind the hugely successful Christian band for King + Country, and it hits theaters nationwide on Friday, April 26.
A description of the film from Lionsgate tells the story of the Smallbone family, David and Helen, who packed up everything they owned and moved their entire family from Australia to Nashville in the 90s in hopes of a better future after “David’s successful music company collapsed.”
“With nothing more than their six children, their suitcases, and their love of music, David (for KING + COUNTRY’s Joel Smallbone) and his pregnant wife Helen (Daisy Betts) set out to rebuild their lives from the ground up,” the description added. “Based on a remarkable true story, a mom’s faith stands against all odds; and inspires her husband and children to hold onto theirs.”
Produced by brothers Luke and Joel Smallbone with Joshua Walsh and Justin Tolley, the cast includes Joel Smallbone — who plays his father in the film, Candace Cameron Bure, Kirrilee Berger, Jonathan Jackson, Lucas Black, and Terry O’Quinn.
Daily Wire’s Michael Knowles spoke to for King + Country’s brothers Joel and Luke Smallbone about the movie and the message about family they hope moviegoers come away with after watching their film.
“Our dad … was a concert promoter in Australia. Lost what would be the equivalent of half $1 million,” Joel told the host. “Lost the house, life savings, the car, everything. Got offered a job in Nashville, and to sort of salvage a dream. Went to mom and said, what if we, you know, took our six kids, 16 suitcases, mom was six months pregnant and moved continents and only to arrive and lose that job.”
CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILYWIRE+ APP
“And so with no way to get back to Australia, no car, no insurance, no way for us just to be born in a hospital with a high risk pregnancy, we found ourselves banding together, raking leaves, mowing lawns, breaking child labor laws, probably, and overcoming together,” he added. “It’s a 90s film. It’s a film that celebrates moms and music and miracles and the local community coming together.”
Luke elaborated on the theme of the film and said, “One of the famous quotes, we’re actually using in the film, is a Catholic phrase from Mother Teresa … [who] says, if you want to change the world, go home and love your family. And that’s part of the reason why we made this movie, because we feel so strongly that family is that powerful, is just that powerful.”
Joel said despite all obstacles their parents faced, they worked together and made it through, calling the film a “testament to their love.”
“Mom had found her dream,” Joel said. “She always wanted to be a mom, and so she was living out her dream. And she really lifted up dad, and went literally and figuratively to the ends of the earth for him in search of his dream, which was to find himself in music, specifically Christian music.”
“And out of that unexpectedly, there’s another phrase in the film that says, your family is not in the way they are,” he added. “But I have to note that this is so much more than just our family. The real unsung heroes of this film are moms. The real unsung hero is family, and we’re just excited to make family and moms potentially the number one conversation in the United States coming into this weekend in the theaters.”
