Relative Stranger, a Hallmark Channel original movie which premieres on March 14 (9/8c), is the story of the struggles faced and overcome by a prodigal father returning home. Walter Clemons (played by Eriq La Salle), is a former football star, sidelined by a knee injury, who had been chased from home six years previously by the specter of his own failed expectations. After several job prospects fall through in other states, rather than return home to face the situation head on with his loving family, he turns to alcohol and solitary defeat, leaving his family to cope with being abandoned by him.
Upon receiving word of the death of his father, Walter knows it is time to face the ghosts of his past. With the encouragement of his A.A. mentor, Father Gary (Dan Castellaneta), he determines to go back and try to make amends with his family for the years he has lost. Thankfully, no one gives Walter a pass. The loving tongue lashings he receives from his mother, Pearl (played by Cicely Tyson), are a great example of how “open rebuke is better than secret love.”
Pearl confronts her son with his root problem: Walter blames his father for his own lack of initiative and is feeling sorry for himself to the point of debilitation and defeat. In yet another rich performance which we have come to expect from Miss Tyson, his mother teaches him that seeking the pity of his estranged family is no way to mend their relationships and win back their confidence. Her wisdom speaks volumes to all who have lost their way home.
The best part of this movie, however, is not that everything turns out perfectly. Walter's teenage daughter, Denise (Dana Davis), turns out to be one of the most difficult people to face. Her reaction to her father is actually spot on and very accurately portrayed. When Walter voices his bewilderment over Denise's hostility toward him, her mother, Charlotte (Michael Michele), explains what has happened to his little girl since he left. Divorced fathers should listen very closely to what she has to say at that point. It may help them understand their own children's struggles.
Article comments
1 - cynthia F
I did enjoy the movie, but I also think it should also be known that if a child is very young when either parent leaves, they don't have that anger to form for when they do come back while they are still young.
I have learned this from experience with a lot of family members & youth in my community.
Children (young ones) can always forgive because they weren't aware of the hurt.
Cynthia F.
2 - Earline Stack
The movie was very good. I'm glad my friend told me to watch it. I've never experienced parents separation. My parents were married 64 years before passing away.
I teach first grade and I see the need of having both parents in the home especially a father, Without asking I ususally can tell which child is from a fatherless home. It's really sad.
My children are grown and have families and my husband and I still try to instill in them the importance of unity, love and peace in the home. That's God's order. Thankfully all of our children and their spouses are christians who teach and live Christ-like lives.
3 - Ms. Reynolds, MS. Ed
What a spectacular correlation between a movie and novel! Turning the Hearts of Fathers Back to their Children by Deon H. Glover directly addresses all of the trials faced by the men in this movie, especially those of Walter.
When Walter enters his family's life, his biggest challenge was his daughter, Denise. Denise had already made up mind that her father should continue on with his life as he had before coming back by acting as if he did not have children. The wall was already up. How could he get past it without severing what little held them together?
In chapter five of Turning the Hearts of Fathers, Glover addresses the "Emotional Standoff". So many in Walter's situation would verbally challenge the child to accept him; however, "having a listening ear first will, in most cases, defuse a potential argument that is about to explode (Glover, 2007). Walter took that approach with his initial meeting with Denise and allowed her to express her true emotions without a verbal confrontation, which would have taken them nowhere.
This book not only addresses many of the issues found in the movie, but also it is a good read. It would make a great gift to any dad on Father's Day which is coming up sooner than we think. It is a wonderful reference source for all of the trials many fathers face today.
Glover, D. H. (2007). Turning the Hearts of Fathers Back to their Children. www.xulonpress.com