Alone Yet Not Alone is a faith-based film that is slowly making its way around the country. And when I say slowly, I mean sloooowly. It had a limited release last year in order to qualify for any possible Academy Award nominations and did snag one for Best Song. There was some controversy involved in that nomination and it was withdrawn. Now the film is getting a wider release in theaters mostly in the South.
Based on a true story, the movie concerns a family that comes to America from Germany in the mid-1700s. They secure a plot of land in Pennsylvania where they are assured they will be safe from any Indian attacks. For a few years they are safe but then a tribe of Delawares attack the family farm and take daughters Barbara (Natalie Racoosin) and Regina (Cassie Brennan) captive.
The film follows Barbara's life as a captive and shows how she became integrated into the Indian lifestyle. One of her captors, a man named Galasko (Ozzie Torres), becomes interested in her and plans to make her his wife.
The film presents an interesting story and lets it unfold at its own pace. The fact it is basically true makes the different occurrences even more enjoyable. You get drawn into the plight of Barbara and pull for her to escape even when it seems the most hopeless.
The two actresses who play Barbara at different ages are both beautiful and talented. Racoosin carries the first half of the movie and then hands it off to Kelly Greyson who portrays Barbara as an adult. Both actresses give us a full study of this person and give her a continuing life on screen. There is no divide between the person we know as a young teen and the one we see as a grown woman.
Although the actors were basically unknown to me at the time I saw the film, there is one familiar face in the cast. Country singer Clay Walker makes an appearance at the end of the movie. His role is small but at least he lends his presence.
The cinematography by James Suttles is impressive as is the musical score by William Ross. The vocal of the theme song by Joni Eareckson Tada is beautifully uplifting. It was written by Bruce Broughton, with lyrics by Dennis Spiegel.
The film is rated PG-13 for violence.
Although this is a faith-based film with a group of unknown actors, do not dismiss it out of hand. Its story is challenging and the presentation is very professional. The entertainment value it presents took me by surprise. Kelly Greyson looks like the '50s actress Jean Peters and should have a bright career ahead of her.
I scored Alone Yet Not Alone a solitary 7 out of 10.