I grew up watching Melissa Gilbert in Little House On The Prairie. It was one of my favorite television shows, and I enjoy the re-runs still today.  She brings the characters to life, no matter what role she is playing.  It felt like watching a family friend on the big screen in her latest movie When We Last Spoke.

Purposely, I do not watch the trailers or read anything on the movies I am getting ready to watch.  Instead, I rely on the picture to “speak” to me, as they say a picture is worth a thousand words.  If I am not automatically drawn in by the picture, I flip right past it.  However, this family picture drew me right in.

Look at the way the older lady at the bottom carries herself.  By the look on her face, you know there is a story waiting to be told, and this movie did not disappoint.  Aside from that and Melissa Gilbert staring in the movie, I was drawn in also by the smiling faces of the mischievous little girls.  Also, let’s not forget the old classic car they are leaning against in the bottom picture!!  I had no hesitations at all with pressing play for this movie!

The movie switches between the past and the present day, with lives of two sisters that faced heartbreak at such an early age.  The entire family suffered, honestly, but the movie is primarily centered on the two girls, Juliet and Evangeline.  When their father went off to war, their mother could not cope with the stresses of raising two young girls alone.  Sadly, she chose to drop the girls off with their grandparents, Ruby and Walt, with the girls begging, crying, and following behind with tears streaming down their faces.  That was heartbreaking enough, but the storyline continued with more the young sisters had to face.  It seemed like one thing after the other, until their grandfather, Walt, broke down crying and asking God why … I think we have all been there a time or two in our lives, if we are honest.  We can relate to feeling so overwhelmed with emotion with things happening in our lives, especially when we lose someone we love (whether they choose to walk out of our lives or they pass away).  Although we are taught not to question God, it is human nature.  It doesn’t mean we don’t love God or that we aren’t honoring Him.  We just seek answers as to why we have to face so much turmoil in our lives when we follow Him.  No one promises the path will be easy, but it doesn’t have to be so hard either!  That is where a lot of people get stuck – you either hang on to bitterness and resentment turning away from God, or you allow Him to comfort your broken heart and pick up the shattered pieces as only He can.  There is overcoming and forgiveness intertwined in this movie as well.

The storyline definitely gripped me as it focused on the girls mainly but also on those with a significant impact on their lives.  It was interesting as it flipped from the past, with the young girls with what they went through, to the present day with the now grown Juliet and Evangeline, and how what they endured affected them then and now.  “Family secrets” were mentioned, and often times when a secret is kept, it is to seemingly protect another member of the family.  (No, there was not any thing involving sexual abuse in this Christian based movie.  It was the secret the older sister kept from the younger one in the way the mother left.  Secrets such as these are often kept so as to protect someone’s feelings and heart.)

Ruby, played by Melissa Gilbert, tickled me in the one scene where she is dancing with the girls.  Oh how that warms my heart, as I have danced with my very own daughters just like this, and still do from time to time.  It made me reflect back on precious memories of my girls at that age and the fun we had being silly together.  Making memories!  That is what we were doing, just like Ruby with Juliet and Evangeline.

There was confusion in the mix within the movie as well, but a whole lot of love, too.  What struck me was the misconception with one situation in particular and also the part with the great-grandmother that tugged at my heartstrings and truly brought tears.  Not wishing to ruin the movie for you, I will choose to leave you in suspense and wondering What is she talking about?!

This award-winning movie is now available for live streaming on Amazon, so watch it and feel the love surrounding this beautiful family.  Click here for all viewing options!

Disclosure: Many thanks to Last Spoke Partners for providing this product/product information for review. Opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation. I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post.

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