“Sound of Hope: The Story of Possum Trot” is the true story of Donna and Reverend Martin and their church in East Texas. Twenty-two families adopted 77 children from the local foster system, igniting a movement for vulnerable children everywhere.
“Sound of Hope: The Story of Possum Trot” is a story of inspiration, love, and community that is almost difficult to believe. It is, however, based on a true story about the congregation of Bennett Chapel in rural East Texas, where twenty-two families, inspired and encouraged by their pastor and his wife, adopted seventy-seven children, rescuing them from the foster care system. Their story has been featured on national TV programs, and the pastor, Reverend Martin, and his wife, Donna, work tirelessly today to promote and extend the excellent work that began in their church in Possum Trot, Texas.
This is a “feel good” film and works towards an unending goal to serve the children in our midst most needing love, attention, and sometimes discipline. The word discipline comes from a Latin word meaning “to learn.” Often, kids who have been either abused or neglected, or both, are removed from their homes and placed in foster care, a system usually itself broken. Discipline is often not delivered with the intention of teaching a child desired attitudes and behavior but only teaches them not to get caught. It would be easy for this film to set aside the difficulty of loving and teaching an older adopted child who has experienced sometimes unmentionable horrors at home. But “Sound of Hope” doesn’t sugarcoat the experiences of the Bennett Chapel families who decide to take in these children. They are youngsters who bring with them a longing for love and family, but they also bring mistrust and hurt, both physical and emotional. Loving these children is hard 24/7. After a short “honeymoon period” where everything goes well, the parents begin to be tested: “Will you still love me even if I do this?” That is where the pedal meets the metal.
“Sound of Hope” does not ignore the extreme ups and downs of the commitments the people of Possum Trot made. Even the Martins seem at one point to want to give up. Through the power of love and the support of their faith, they don’t give up and recognize that many other families are feeling the same. At that point, they can step back, admit their fears, and reorganize, offering each other the support they need for the particular issues in their households. Also offering unquestioning support is the social worker assigned to each of the Possum Trot children. She was unquestionably instrumental in the initiative’s success to let no children in their area fall victim to the foster care system. Susan Ramsey became a community member, and Bennett Chapel was the only church she attended.
Nika King is extraordinarily powerful in her portrayal of Donna Martin. The role asks for such a range of emotions: grief, love, guilt, and anger, and King delivers a knockout in every round. Her body is her instrument, and she uses it beautifully to deliver all she feels as she attempts to love an unlovable child. She brings the rawest of emotions to the screen as she portrays a force to be reckoned with in her push to provide love, structure, and family to children who know little of that.
Demetrius Grosse is fascinating as he struggles to be a loving, faithful father, husband, and pastor. He is strong and committed to ministering to “nobody’s children,” even though his commitment is tested repeatedly. His sermons are joyful and seem to come from the voice and body of the real Reverend Martin. I couldn’t take my eyes off him whenever he was onscreen, and I won’t soon forget the scene where he goes to a nearby white mega church, hat in hand, asking for their financial help for the adoptive families in Possum Trot. Director Joshua Weigel steps into the role of the pastor of the affluent congregation and manages to be only a little condescending to Reverend Martin. No surprise there.
A young teenage girl who joins the Martin family embodies the inherent difficulties families face in bringing these children into their families. The girl is Terri, and her background has made her hard and manipulative. She smiles and lies easily and is ready for a fight at any time. Newcomer Diaana Babnicova is completely convincing in the role of a young girl who has been hurt so badly and so often she has developed skin that is so thick that it seems impenetrable. When she finally allows herself to open up to the love and support of the community, Babnicova is wrenching in her performance.
There are no quick answers or fixes in this film. The families struggle mightily to bring these children to accept the love offered and trust their parents to follow through with consequences when behavior is unacceptable. Through the Martins, this film makes the case for adopting kids who so need love and direction even when it is difficult for them to accept.
The ending of the film is a joy to watch! We see the real, live children and the actors who portray them. Ten years have elapsed, and the families now enjoy the children and grandchildren who have sprung from all the love shared. It certainly gives one hope that what happened in the tiny spot called Possum Trot can surely come about any and everywhere. The Martins are still spreading the word and hoping to encourage these adoptions wherever needed. They’re VERY persuasive!
In Theaters Thursday, July 4th
