It’s not hard to be cynical about the future of filmmaking, especially in a year where the box office is topped by corporate slop like A Minecraft Movie, Lilo & Stitch, and Jurassic World Rebirth. While the Academy Awards may have crowned Anora as the best film of 2024, its overall global box office gross is less than what Captain America: Brave New World made in its domestic opening weekend. The potential for independent films to break out is slim, especially for those that aren’t at least tangentially related to the horror genre. Unless they gain the backing of distributors like A24 or Neon, self-financed films are lucky to get a few endorsements before they disappear into the streaming infrastructure.
But it’s impossible to find a cynical angle to describe A Little Prayer. Written and directed by Angus MacLachlan, the family drama was developed for six years before production began in the filmmaker’s hometown of Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Although a debut at the Sundance Film Festival in 2023 was met positively, distribution for A Little Prayer at Sony Pictures Classics fell apart amidst the SAG-AFTRA and WGA strikes, which put the film on ice for almost two years. While a theatrical release is now guaranteed by the tiny distributor Music Box Films, it's unlikely that audiences that don’t live in coastal regions will see it.
A Little Prayer is a quiet, thoughtful slice-of-life film in the tradition of Mike Leigh or Ken Loach, but had a uniquely American spirit reminiscent of the stage-like poetry of Kenneth Lonergan. David Strathairn, the film’s most recognizable star, is the kind-hearted business owner Bill, who has operated his own company for decades. Although Bill has retained a truthful and compassionate relationship with his wife Venida (Celia Watson), his repetitive work days are often illuminated by the presence of his daughter-in-law, Tammy (Jane Levy). Tammy’s burdened by a job of her own and health issues, but she’s willing to manage the multi-generational home with joy. Although Bill considers Tammy as a member of his family, regardless of blood, he’s shocked to learn that his son, David (Will Pullen), has been unfaithful to her.
There’s nothing scandalous about the extramarital affairs in A Little Prayer, nor is there an intention to berate the audience. Any observation about the decline of the American family is tied exclusively to the film’s characters. Bill quickly learns that he shouldn’t impose judgment. However, this doesn’t change the fact that what David’s done is wrong; regardless of the ethics of an open relationship, he’s misled his wife and taken advantage of her compassionate spirit.
The trauma that Bill’s subjected to in A Little Prayer is two-fold. He’s terrified of what Tammy’s reaction will be, as he’s motivated by sympathy, and not a willingness to be offended. Bill has already felt indebted to the young woman who has put up with the chaos that’s intrinsic to his family, and the suggestion that her kindness has been insulted is unfathomable. Alternatively, A Little Prayer is an exploration of the ownership that parents have for their children. Bill may theoretically understand that David’s an adult who’s responsible for his own choices, but that doesn’t erase the lingering anxiety that he should’ve raised his son better.
Although the premise is straightforward, the soul-searching experienced by Bill is what has distinguished A Little Prayer from the majority of indie films with similarly altruistic intentions. Bill’s consumed by conflict, but he’s still a patriarch and business owner subjected to the responsibilities that come with both; between the management of employee outings and the arrival of his troublesome daughter Patti (Anna Camp), Bill’s able to excuse himself from any confrontation with David. However, the open wound of his son’s betrayal is more distressing than the escalation of the affair. In his silence, Bill has opened himself up to criticism that he’s let the situation go unacknowledged. While Venida’s support is unflappable, Bill knows he’ll never be able to forgive himself if the family peace is shattered.
A Little Prayer is composed of tender moments, as MacLachlan seems to understand that the realism would be lost with a completely rigid structure. Each scene’s goal is to offer a window into the lives of the characters. By the time that A Little Prayer gives Strathairn a powerful monologue, it’s the wholesome advice of an aged family man, not the saccharine truism of a melodrama. “They don’t belong to you,” Bill said of his children. “They will break your heart.”
The patience in which A Little Prayer is unfolded might strike some as uncreative, but there’s no reason for flashiness in a film about the courage of wholesomeness. It’s a film that isn’t afraid to celebrate beauty, and doesn’t look down upon its characters because of their humbleness. A Little Prayer is one of the most impressive achievements of the year.