Chicago Critics Film Fest 2025 Review: A Little Prayer

✰✰✰✰½​ (out of five)

Synopsis: When a man begins to suspect that his son is having an affair, he falls into a relationship minefield trying to protect his daughter-in-law and understand his son.

Review: I had the pleasure of watching A Little Prayer twice: once via screener in advance of my red carpet interview with director Angus MacLachlan and actress Jane Levy at closing night for the Chicago Critics Film Festival. Initially, I found it difficult to embrace it, but by the time closing night arrived, I decided to watch it again thru the lens of a father, and the scope and effect the film had in change was dramatic and wonderfully improved. This movie is just a sweet, small and simple film with an understated premise and execution. David Strathairn, quite possibly my favorite character actor, gets his flowers in a plum, dynamic lead role, the anchor of experience in both the cast and characters. Levy adds the yin to that yang of platonic love, two people who are already there for one another but don't know yet how much they truly need and lean on one another. It is a symbiotic vision of love and family.

**Note: This was viewed during the festival's run.**