Seven years after the heartwarming film Wonder became a box office hit, its sequel arrives in theaters this weekend, promising audiences what one filmmaker describes as a "rush of hope." White Bird (PG-13) tells the uplifting story of Julian, the student in Wonder, who was suspended for bullying and was subsequently withdrawn from school by his parents in protest. White Bird picks up with Julian in a different school as he tries to find his way with a new set of friends. The plot turns when his grandmother visits him at his home and shares the story of her own childhood as a young Jewish girl living in Nazi-occupied France during World War II.
Oscar-winner Helen Mirren portrays the grandmother, while Bryce Gheisar returns for the role of Julian.
White Bird is being released by Kingdom Story Company, the same studio that produced Unsung Hero, Ordinary Angels, Jesus Revolution, and I Can Only Imagine.
Both White Bird and Wonder were based on books by author R. J. Palacio.
Kingdom Story CEO Kevin Downes says White Bird is a film America needs.
"With all of our films at Kingdom Story Company, we're doing true life stories that showcase the power of the gospel, that offer this rush of hope," Downes told Crosswalk Headlines. "And so White Bird is exactly that. It literally showcases the power of the fruits of the spirit of the Gospel of Jesus Christ when put into action.
"And so I love that about this movie. It does it in such a blatant, powerful way. And I won't give away the ending. The ending alone is worth sitting through the entire film."
In White Bird, Julian's grandmother tells him how she was hidden away by a classmate to protect her from the Nazis.
Downes places the film on his top five list of all time.
"I love this film," he said.
It is, he said, a story about "selfless kindness when all hope is lost." It's a film with a powerful message for children, he said. He's looking forward to showing it to his own kids.
"That message of selfless act of kindness is something that is so important for their young little hearts and their young little minds to be able to see that in -- an example that's visually spelled out in a two-hour movie," he said.
White Bird is rated PG-13 for some strong violence, thematic material, and language.
WATCH: White Bird – Official Trailer
Photo Credit: ©Lionsgate
Michael Foust has covered the intersection of faith and news for 20 years. His stories have appeared in Baptist Press, Christianity Today, The Christian Post, the Leaf-Chronicle, the Toronto Star and the Knoxville News-Sentinel.