WHERE HOPE GROWS is an inspiring story about Calvin Campbell (Christopher Polaha), a former MLB baseball player who lost his dream job. He is now an unemployed alcoholic that is so busy feeling sorry for himself that he doesn’t pay attention to much of anything.
His 17 year old daughter, Katie (McKaley Miller), wants to spend time with him but he never makes time for her, instead opts to hang out at the local bar. He is so absorbed with his life and his problems that he doesn’t notice he is pushing his daughter away and into the arms of the no good trouble-maker, Colt.
Calvin: “You are 16 years old!”
Katie: “I am 17, Dad.”
One day while at his local grocery store stocking up on booze, Calvin meets Produce (David DeSanctis), a young man with Down Syndrome who works at the local ValuMart. Produce is a very happy, upbeat, and positive person. He knows everything about all the produce in the store; the names, if they’re fruit or vegetables, and even the SKU numbers.
In his time of need and doubt, Calvin seeks advice from Produce, who ultimately becomes sort of a mentor to Calvin. Calvin begins to see things through Produce’s eyes and his life begins to regain purpose as an unexpected friendship develops.
Calvin: “Produce, I wasn’t honest. I’m not fine.”
Produce: “Are you sick?”
Calvin: “No.”
Produce: “Maybe you just need to smile. A cheerful heart is good medicine.”
Calvin: “Where’d you get that? A bumper sticker? Look, I just came to talk.
Produce: “To ME?”
Calvin: “Yeah. I’d like some of that magical happiness that you always seem to have. Seriously, what's your secret?
Produce: “It’s no secret, Mr. Campbell.”
Calvin relapses and misses out on a huge opportunity, and as a result Calvin is arrested with his daughter Katie once again having to be the responsible adult. Knowing that his daughter, Katie has finally completely given up on him, he vows to do/be better.
Katie: “Do you know what it feels like picking up the man who calls himself your father at the police station, drunk as h***?”
Just like their unexpected relationship drew them together, their future becomes more intertwined when an unexpected tragedy occurs that changes the course of both of their lives. Calvin is forced to deal with his flaws, struggles, and find a way to turn his life around.
MAIN CHARACTER ANALYSIS
Calvin Campbell is a former baseball player whose career ends abruptly due to his inability to perform under pressure. Calvin is unable to deal with having lost the one thing he wanted most of all and his drinking spirals out of control. One day he meets an unexpected person, Produce, and thus starts an unexpected friendship that ultimately open his eyes and helps him deal with his problems head on.
Katie Campbell is the 17 year-old daughter of Calvin Campbell. She loves her father, but struggles with having to deal with someone who is never around and always drunk. Eventually, it comes to a head when her father pushes her away and as a result, she chooses her boyfriend, Colt, over her father, which ultimately causes her to deal with Colt’s greedy and selfish ways.
Produce is young man with Down Syndrome that is an employee at ValuMart, the towns supermarket. Produce has only ever wanted one thing, to be “Employee of the Month” but time and time again, someone else is chosen. Calvin lets him see that he can do anything he wants and that his disability is and will not keep him from his dreams. He has a crush on Katie and because of this, Colt loves to terrorize and threaten him.
Colt is an employee at ValuMart. He is beloved by much of the townspeople as he is like a local celebrity. Produce already disliked him, but ended up disliking him more as he was a liar and a thief. They never got along as Colt would tease and threaten him especially when Produce was around his girlfriend, Katie. Neither Calvin or Produce like him and her father warns her to stay away from him as boys like him are only after one thing. In the end, we learn that Calvin was right all along and Katie kicks him to the curb.
Milton is a childhood friend of Calvin’s. We can assume he is well-off as he is seen either paying for drinks at the bar, playing gold, and at home in a large home with his wife where he ultimately takes in another friend that is going through a rough patch. Milton and Calvin have a disagreement over Milton calling Produce a “retard” and telling Calvin that he needs to stop feeling sorry for himself and do something with his life. In the end, there is an unexpected surprise.
All of the actors cast in the film had either acted in a few other roles or are well-known actors except for David DeSanctis who played the role of Produce. DeSanctis actually beat out 30 other actors and had never acted before. David’s only experience on any public stage was when he did a cooking show in high school. Chris Dowling, the writer and director of the film said that his personality was so infectious, it was hard not to choose him.
They actually struggled with casting an actual person with a disability because they were afraid that whoever they cast would not be able to remember the lines, but they were mistaken. David was able to remember every line and act it out perfectly. In a way, David proved everyone wrong. DeSanctis not only proved this in the movie, but also in real life as he was quoted as telling the Hollywood Reporter, “I want people to see me for my abilities, not my disability.”
The film itself is centered on hope and faith. They did a great job of showcasing their faith but in a way that the film could be enjoyed by everyone and not have people feel like religion or Christianity itself was being forced down their throats.
Not only did this film have a person with Down Syndrome as a main character, but it was a breathe of fresh air to see that the character of Produce was not cast as being dependent on someone because of his disability, but instead as someone who is self-sufficient and able to realize their life aspirations just like any other person without a disability.
The film itself was filmed in 23 days - often with 12-14hr days.
It was originally released in 2014 at the Dallas International Film Festival. The film was so popular that in 2016 they had a special screening of the film at the Heartland Film Festival. The film is currently available in DVD as well as viewable on Amazon Prime.
I would definitely recommend watching this film. I thoroughly enjoyed it and it was great to see someone with a disability be cast positively and with an active and non-stereotypical role.
