Lifetime Movie Network breaks every rule the Amish people live by to bring to the screen the truly awful “Amish Grace,” a “based on truth” fictional account of the attack by a crazed gunman that left five Amish school girls dead and five more seriously injured.
In fact, “Amish Grace” is so bad they should have called it “Amish Disgrace.”
So, what’s so terrible about this Lifetime Movie Network original movie? Basically everything from the fictionalizing of a modern tragedy that rocked the nation to creating lead characters who were never there because they don’t exist.
Worse, the writer distorts the story so that instead of the forgiveness that actually flowed from the grieving mothers, they have the lead mom filled with anger and hatred. The totally false character, Ida Graber (Kimberly Williams-Paisley), is so angry with her husband Gideon (Matt Letscher) for forgiving the gunman who killed their child, that she’s ready to leave not just him but the faith, as well!
No pun intended, but dear God, have you no shame?
But there’s more. The movie begins with some horribly-written fake dialogue among the women folk, focusing on Ida and her 14-year-old daughter MaryBeth (Madison Davenport). The kid, of course, gets murdered the next day, her first as “teacher’s helper.” Dad forgives the murderer and even goes with the elders to the home of Amy Roberts (Tammy Blanchard), the wife of the murderer to offer support, toys, prayers and help to the family. That did, in fact, happen, even if Roberts’ wife’s name is Marie, not Amy (I know, it’s insane), not that Gideon Graber ever existed, either.
The media in real life was awed by the gesture. However, in this slop bucket, they are a skeptical and critical bunch who want to know if the gesture is a fake setup for the media — totally disregarding the fact that Amish have no interest in media exposure.
Insane, I know.
On the upside, the costumes are so hilariously terrible they look like cheap Hasidic Halloween costumes that came in a bag at a bad taste costume store. And the men’s beards? Definitely stolen from the wardrobe closet of some community theater production of “Abe Lincoln In Illinois.”
Good thing I’m not Amish — this whole mess is just, well, unforgivable.