AMISH GRACE

Yes. Amish Grace is an extraordinary, gripping drama about an Amish community responding to the murder of its schoolchildren. The shooting is never shown, and the tragedy is handled tastefully, but the subject remains emotionally heavy. Young children may be disturbed by the conversations and events.

The film’s Christian message of forgiveness is clear. It explores how forgiveness differs from pardon and justice, and how refusing to be consumed by hatred can free a person from a wicked act’s power. Kimberly Williams-Paisley gives a terrific performance as Ida, a grieving mother who cannot forgive as quickly as the rest of her community.

Watch it if your older children can handle a heart-rending tragedy and your family wants to discuss Christian forgiveness seriously.

After a gunman kills several Amish schoolchildren, a fictional Amish family must live through the grief that follows. Gideon and Ida lose their 14-year-old daughter, and their community responds with an extraordinary declaration of forgiveness.

Ida cannot share that forgiveness. As she wrestles with bitterness toward the gunman, God, and her husband, the family must confront what grace requires after an unthinkable loss.

Four stars means this is an exceptional television drama. The story is well written and moves along quickly while mining the emotional depth of the tragedy without becoming maudlin.

Kimberly Williams-Paisley gives a terrific performance as Ida, bringing life to a character who could have been one-dimensional. The result is compelling, profoundly touching, and entertaining. The film’s emotional power can bring viewers to tears while deepening their understanding of its Christian message.

The film presents a very strong Christian, biblical, and moral worldview centered on forgiveness. The Amish community forgives the gunman because they believe he will answer to a just God; they do not need to impose their own punishment. The story also makes an important distinction: forgiveness is not the same as pardon or justice.

Amish Grace exalts prayer, Scripture, heaven, and freedom from the destructive power of hatred. It presents forgiveness as an act of grace rather than an excuse for evil. The film includes many references to Jesus, Psalm 23, and Matthew 6:14, bringing the tragedy into direct conversation with Christian teaching.

The film’s central longing is for grace in the face of devastating evil. That hope aligns with Jesus’ teaching: “For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you” (Matthew 6:14).

Amish Grace is a beautifully acted, profoundly moving story of forgiveness after tragedy. Its subject is heavy, but the shooting is handled tastefully, and its Christian message is clear. For older children and adults, this is WORTH WATCHING.