Mitch Albom may be a well-known sports writer, but he didn’t become a bestselling author writing about professional sports. That happened after Albom found worldwide success with the publication of his nonfiction book, “Tuesdays with Morrie.”
It’s been over a decade since “Morrie” arrived on the bestseller list, and now Albom’s latest nonfiction book “Have a Little Faith” has been adapted into a television movie airing at 9 p.m. EST tonight on ABC. I recently talked to Albom about his new film.
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“Faith” tells the story of the Rabbi Albert Lewis (Martin Landau). Lewis, who was the author’s childhood rabbi, asks Albom (Bradley Whitford) to write his eulogy. Lewis isn’t sick, but he wants everything to be prepared for when his time comes. The author reluctantly agrees and starts interviewing Lewis to complete the assignment. As the story unfolds, Albom also befriends a Christian pastor named Henry Covington (Laurence Fishburne), whose Church is in need of some repairs. Covington is a former drug dealer who found God and a new life after a near-death experience.
Albom tells the story of both men – a Christian preacher and a Jewish rabbi — and how both helped him on his religious journey.
It’s easy to see the similarities between Rabbi Lewis and Morrie Schwartz, the subject of Albom’s first nonfiction book. As Albom told me, both men were Jewish, grew up in New York and were “pretty similar in age.” The author added, however, that there are key differences between the two. “Morrie,” Albom noted, “was a little bit more humanistic in his approach” and “wasn’t very religious.” Albom added that Morrie’s “wisdom was short of shaped – in the end – by his disease.”
On the other hand, Lewis’ wisdom is shaped by his Jewish faith, and Morrie noted that one of the major lessons of the film is that “it’s never too late to sort of go back and rediscover faith and see the beauty of it” and that “faith can be something that pulls people together.” He added that “the theme [of the story] is faith and redemption and it’d be nice if there’s more of that on T.V.”
Thankfully, the Hallmark Hall of Fame saw the potential of Albom’s story. They approached the author and flew in to see him for a meeting. Albom insisted that the film be made in Detroit and the company agreed. All of “Faith” was filmed in the Motor City.
In addition to celebrating the book, the film honors people doing good work in their own communities. In the story, Albom publishes a front-page newspaper article about Covington’s Church and the work that the pastor is doing despite the Church’s financial problems. That article helps bring members of the community together to help raise money.
When I talked to Albom about the dearth of positive news in the media, he noted that for members of the media, it’s hard to find good news but “bad news finds you.”
“Have a Little Faith” celebrates the good news out there that may be harder to find but is still worth looking for.
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