BE THE LIGHT
A well-intentioned Christian drama that needs more light and less length.
Should You Watch It?
BE THE LIGHT wants to encourage forgiveness, family reconciliation, service, and giving back to the community in the Name of the Lord. Its Christian and moral worldview gives the story a worthwhile foundation, and the central effort to help needy people offers a positive example.
But the film’s good intentions are weakened by its execution. It is much too long, the singing is only average, and the extended musical competition drains power from the positive ending. Some supporting-character elements may also trouble Christian families, especially the unrebuked homosexuality and the portrayal of a white pastor as racist.
Because the content rating is −1, parents can use discernment for older children and should decide carefully for younger ones. This is best watched at home, where your family can pause and discuss it.
The Story
NO SPOILERS — WE KEEP THE SURPRISESCelina, once a little girl who sang with her father, has grown into a struggling mother with a troubled past. When she learns that her estranged father, Ramon, has stage-four pancreatic cancer, she returns home after nine years apart.
As Celina tries to help Ramon, she joins Marvin and other friends in an effort to create a community center and church. They hope music, service, and a singing competition can help their neighborhood—and help them build a new legacy.
Is It Any Good?
Two stars means BE THE LIGHT has a worthwhile message but does a poor job executing it. The movie’s positive themes of forgiveness, helping others, family, and being remembered for doing good are clear.
The film wants to be a musical, but it does not have outstanding singers or actors. Its 110-minute length feels excessive, and the stretched-out musical competition weakens the power of the positive ending.
The Worldview
BE THE LIGHT presents a strong Christian, moral worldview centered on helping others and giving back to the community in the Name of the Lord. It extols family, forgiveness, love, Jesus, and service. A Cross necklace is worn, Scripture is referenced, and a church service is seen.
The film also includes elements that depart from biblical standards as understood by the source review. A white pastor is depicted as racist and unwilling to show biblical forgiveness and love, though he is rebuked. A man publicly acknowledges his homosexuality, says he loves Jesus, and wants to use his voice to sing for Him; the film does not rebuke the homosexuality. These choices may require discernment and discussion.
The film’s longing for forgiveness and a new legacy connects with Scripture’s call to live differently: “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you” (Ephesians 4:32).
The Content Guide
The specifics — spoilers included by nature — so you can judge for your own family.
Dominant Worldview and Other Worldview Content/Elements
Strong Christian, moral worldview as a group of people aim to do good and give back to their community in the Name of the Lord, family and forgiveness and helping others are extolled, a Cross necklace is worn, loving Jesus is mentioned, Scripture is referenced, and a church service is seen, but marred by some politically correct content where a white pastor is depicted as a racist and doesn’t adhere to biblical standards of forgiveness and loving others like Jesus loves us, but he’s rebuked, and there’s an unrebuked homosexual element where a man publicly acknowledges his homosexuality but also says he loves Jesus and wants to use his voice to sing for Him
Foul Language
One obscenity and one light obscenity, pastor calls black men thugs and tears them down in front of his church congregation
Violence
Father slaps son across the face, man talks about how other men spit on him and nearly started to beat him up
Sex
A character publicly admits he’s a homosexual, and it’s not rebuked
Nudity
No nudity, but a woman’s midriff is shown several times
Alcohol Use
Mother stays out drinking and gets drunk, but it’s rebuked, there’s conversation about how daughter went off the deep end and partied and drank when her mother died
Smoking and/or Drug Use and Abuse
Man smokes cigarettes several times, but he’s encouraged to stop;
Miscellaneous Immorality
Dysfunctional father/daughter relationship but it’s eventually fixed, a dysfunctional father/son relationship isn’t fixed, lying, racism but rebuked, stealing, and grudges are held against other people.
Talk About It
Questions for the drive home, the dinner table, or the youth group.
Celina tries to make amends with her dying father. What does genuine forgiveness require from us, and how does God’s forgiveness shape the way we forgive?
Ephesians 4:32 · Colossians 3:13Marvin wants to create a community center and church to help needy people. What needs do you see around you, and how could your family respond?
James 2:15–17 · Galatians 6:10Several characters hope to move beyond their pasts and create a new legacy. What does Scripture say about becoming a new creation?
2 Corinthians 5:17 · Ephesians 4:22–24The film presents music as a way to bring people together. How can your gifts serve God and other people?
1 Peter 4:10–11 · Colossians 3:16The Final Word
BE THE LIGHT has a sincere Christian message about forgiveness, family, Jesus, and serving others. But its length, average singing, weak execution, and troubling supporting-character elements make it better for home viewing and discussion. For a more polished family movie night, see our.
WAIT FOR HOME — OLDER CHILDREN AND ADULTS.
