Film Review: The Christmas Candle

Britain’s Got Talent finalist Susan Boyle makes her feature film acting debut in John Stephenson’s festive drama, adapted from the novel of the same name by Max Lucado.
By The Newsroom
Published 22nd Dec 2013, 07:00 BST
FILE - In this March 27, 2012 file photo, Susan Boyle performs during her musical 'I Dreamed A Dream' at the Theatre Royal in Newcastle, England. Boyle is making her big-screen acting debut in a Christmas-themed British period drama. The Scottish singer appears in "The Christmas Candle," a story of angels and wishes set in an English village in the 1890s. (AP Photo/Scott Heppell, File)FILE - In this March 27, 2012 file photo, Susan Boyle performs during her musical 'I Dreamed A Dream' at the Theatre Royal in Newcastle, England. Boyle is making her big-screen acting debut in a Christmas-themed British period drama. The Scottish singer appears in "The Christmas Candle," a story of angels and wishes set in an English village in the 1890s. (AP Photo/Scott Heppell, File)
FILE - In this March 27, 2012 file photo, Susan Boyle performs during her musical 'I Dreamed A Dream' at the Theatre Royal in Newcastle, England. Boyle is making her big-screen acting debut in a Christmas-themed British period drama. The Scottish singer appears in "The Christmas Candle," a story of angels and wishes set in an English village in the 1890s. (AP Photo/Scott Heppell, File)

Progressive young minister David Richmond (Hans Matheson) arrives in the sleepy village of Gladbury, nestled deep in the English countryside.

He learns of a local legend which states that every 25 years, an angel descends on Gladbury and blesses one of the candles in the shop run by candlemaker Edward Haddington (Sylvester McCoy) and his wife Bea (Lesley Manville).

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Whoever lights this candle and says a prayer will be granted a Christmas wish. David doesn’t believe the myth and he encourages his congregation to abandon their reliance on the candle for miracles and to perform small acts of kindness of their own free will.

FILE - In this March 27, 2012 file photo, Susan Boyle performs during her musical 'I Dreamed A Dream' at the Theatre Royal in Newcastle, England. Boyle is making her big-screen acting debut in a Christmas-themed British period drama. The Scottish singer appears in "The Christmas Candle," a story of angels and wishes set in an English village in the 1890s. (AP Photo/Scott Heppell, File)FILE - In this March 27, 2012 file photo, Susan Boyle performs during her musical 'I Dreamed A Dream' at the Theatre Royal in Newcastle, England. Boyle is making her big-screen acting debut in a Christmas-themed British period drama. The Scottish singer appears in "The Christmas Candle," a story of angels and wishes set in an English village in the 1890s. (AP Photo/Scott Heppell, File)
FILE - In this March 27, 2012 file photo, Susan Boyle performs during her musical 'I Dreamed A Dream' at the Theatre Royal in Newcastle, England. Boyle is making her big-screen acting debut in a Christmas-themed British period drama. The Scottish singer appears in "The Christmas Candle," a story of angels and wishes set in an English village in the 1890s. (AP Photo/Scott Heppell, File)

The modernisation of Gladbury gives church warden Herbert Hopewell (James Cosmo) and his wife Eleanor (Boyle) cause for grave concern.

However, it does pique the interest of religious sceptic Emily Barstow (Samantha Barks), who is drawn to David at the very moment that the minister’s mission is thrown into jeopardy by the disappearance of the supposedly anointed candle.

Related topics:Susan Boyle