Love Comes Softly is one of the most inspiring films of the decade. The story takes place on the American frontier, which presented more challenges than most of us can imagine—especially for a recently married young couple. As the film begins we see a young bride, Marty (Katherine Heigle) totally frustrated about their long and seemingly endless journey. As her husband, Aaron (Corbin Bernsen) is trying to reassure her that they are almost there, they indeed find that they are—and promise one another that everything will be all right as long as they have each other. But this is not to be as the next day, one of their horses gets loose and while racing after the animal on their other horse, Aaron is knocked off his horse and hits his head on a rock. In some sad, but touching scenes that follow, we see Marty waiting by the river for Aaron’s return, but instead of him returning on his horse for breakfast, the approaching horseman is a neighbor with Aaron’s body wrapped in a blanket and draped on his horse. Other settlers arrange a funeral and try to comfort Marty, which is almost impossible. All alone now, in a place she didn’t want to be, she has harsh realities to face. The last wagon train of the season had already left for the East, and winter was coming soon. Then came a startling suggestion by a recent widower, a kind and gentle man of great faith, had been praying for someone to help him raise his ten-year-old daughter, Missy. So admitting that the timing is awful, Clark boldly suggests to Marty that they marry. The difficulty is compounded because the marriage would have to be the next day since the itinerant preacher would be leaving the next day and wouldn’t be back until Spring. Clark didn’t expect love, or intimacy, just someone to be a mother to Missy, which would give Marty a place to live for the winter after which Clark promised that if she wanted to go home then, that he would pay her return stage-coach passage. Reluctantly, Marty agreed, much to the displeasure of Missy, who shared the bedroom with Marty while Clark discretely slept in the lean-to. While watching the progress (or lack thereof) toward springtime, the strained relationships continued for quite some time. Several interesting challenges and circumstances occur that would test the strongest families. Along the way, Marty finds out that she is pregnant with her dead husband’s baby, and wonders how this will be accepted by Clark, and is surprised to find him give even more in the way of support and non-physical love. Other crises occur, including the barn burning to the ground. Mary cannot understand how with all these things going wrong, how Clark can maintain his faith and determination, demonstrated in many ways including his frequent walks to an overlook where he goes for solitude and comfort, singing hymns and praying. Clark truly believes that God will guide him about important decisions, an inspiring example rarely portrayed in motion pictures. During these special moments, and at other times, we hear strains of the beautiful hymn, “Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing.” As the months go by, little-by-little Marty begins to understand Clark’s faith. Missy, missing her mom, has a difficult time accepting Marty as a substitute. Skye McCole Bartusiak’s acting, as she plays Missy, is outstanding. Explaining how she could portray this young girl so realistically, especially as she tearfully thinks about the death of her mother, Skye said simply that she just thought how terrible she would feel if she lost her own mother, and then acted, and cried, accordingly. Katherine Heigle and Dale Midkiff are also stellar in playing their parts—as are each of the supporting cast members. In the story, see parenting skills unfold that are worth noting. The directing by Michael Landon, Jr. couldn’t be better—working from a script that he and Cindy Kelley masterfully adapted from Janette Oke’s novel. Love Comes Softly is a classic. It is one of Hallmark Entertainment’s best, which is a high compliment. Everyone, other than perhaps very young members of a family, who may not be able to follow the story, can enjoy this fine motion picture—and the two sequels that follow, Love’s Enduring Promise, and Love’s Long Journey. Click here to read the moviepicks interview with Janette Oke, author of the Love Comes Softly series.
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