Lifemark

As a pregnant teenager, Melissa is preparing for an abortion to end her unwanted pregnancy, when at the very last minute she told the doctor, "I can't do this."{{cite news|title=Louisiana documentary is basis of feature film|date=June 11, 2022|url=https://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/news/politics/legislature/article_9853d82e-e99e-11ec-9de0-f76902be123e.html|work=The Advocate|accessdate=September 3, 2022|archive-date=September 4, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220904031635/https://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/news/politics/legislature/article_9853d82e-e99e-11ec-9de0-f76902be123e.html|url-status=live}} Instead, she chooses to deliver her son and place him for adoption, where he is adopted by the Colton family of Louisiana. Eighteen years later, Melissa reaches out to David through the adoption agency, leading to their connection on social media and ultimately meeting face-to-face.

{{div col|colwidth=30em}}

• Raphael Ruggero as David Colton.{{cite news|title=Lifemark|url=https://www.pluggedin.com/movie-reviews/lifemark-2022/|accessdate=September 22, 2022|publisher=Plugged In (publication)|archive-date=September 23, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220923041650/https://www.pluggedin.com/movie-reviews/lifemark-2022/|url-status=live}}
• Kirk Cameron as Jimmy Colton, David's adoptive father.
• Rebecca Rogers Nelson as Susan Colton, David's adoptive mother.
• Dawn Long as Melissa Cates, David's birth mother, as she makes contact with him.{{cite news|title=Bozeman local lands a role on the big screen|url=https://www.kbzk.com/news/local-news/bozeman-local-lands-a-role-on-the-big-screen|last=Sallee|first=Jolee|publisher=KBZK|date=September 2, 2022|accessdate=September 3, 2022|archive-date=September 2, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220902193943/https://www.kbzk.com/news/local-news/bozeman-local-lands-a-role-on-the-big-screen|url-status=live}}
• Alex Kendrick as Shawn Cates, Melissa's husband.
• Marisa Hampton as Young Melissa, as she gives birth to David and places him for adoption.
• Lowery Brown as Brian, David's biological father.
• Iain Tucker as Young Brian.
• Justin Sterner as Nate, David's friend.

{{div col end}}

Lifemark is the culmination of David Scotton's story, which he began telling in a 2011 "Louisiana Pro-Life Oratory Contest at Jesuit High School in New Orleans."{{cite news|title=Watch: Compelling story of Metairie man's reunion with birth mom who nearly aborted him|url=https://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/news/politics/article_d971ddc2-1c09-11e8-8564-5b7d0708ac35.html|date=March 5, 2018|last=Ballard|first=Mark|work=The Advocate|accessdate=September 3, 2022|archive-date=September 4, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220904031635/https://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/news/politics/article_d971ddc2-1c09-11e8-8564-5b7d0708ac35.html|url-status=live}} The story was picked up by Louisiana Right to Life, who funded the documentary film I Lived on Parker Avenue{{cite web|title=I Lived on Parker Avenue|url=https://www.ilivedonparkerave.com/|accessdate=September 4, 2022|archive-date=September 4, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220904031635/https://www.ilivedonparkerave.com/|url-status=live}} for $67,000. After the film's release, Scotton spent his time "visiting Catholic high schools across the country, appearing on national television, showing the film to members of Congress and telling just about all who would listen about the adoption alternative." While the Kendrick Brothers intended to tell a pro-life story, they started adapting the story in 2019; executive producer Stephen Kendrick attributed the post-Dobbs release of the project to providential timing.{{cite news|title=Kendricks' film 'Lifemark' takes bold stand for life, challenges Church to step up in post-Roe society|url=https://www.christianpost.com/news/kendricks-film-lifemark-takes-bold-stand-for-life-post-roe.html|last=Klett|first=Leah MarieAnn|work=The Christian Post|date=August 31, 2022|accessdate=September 3, 2022|archive-date=September 3, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220903143148/https://www.christianpost.com/news/kendricks-film-lifemark-takes-bold-stand-for-life-post-roe.html|url-status=live}} Both Stephen Kendrick and Cameron have adopted children, and Cameron's wife was herself adopted, which both cite as a motivation for their involvement with this film. Cameron publicly promoted the film and explained his motivation in a speech at the 2022 March for Life.{{cite news|title=Kendrick Brothers Team Up with Kirk Cameron to Make Pro-life Film Lifemark|url=https://www.christianheadlines.com/contributors/milton-quintanilla/kendrick-brothers-team-up-with-kirk-cameron-to-make-pro-life-film-lifemark.html|publisher=Christian Headlines|last=Quintanilla|first=Milton|date=February 1, 2022|accessdate=September 4, 2022|archive-date=September 5, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220905052934/https://www.christianheadlines.com/contributors/milton-quintanilla/kendrick-brothers-team-up-with-kirk-cameron-to-make-pro-life-film-lifemark.html|url-status=live}} Bloomberg noted that Cameron "acknowledged adoption doesn’t always work as well as portrayed" in the film.{{cite news|title=Kirk Cameron's Anti-Abortion Film 'Lifemark' Rides Wave of Christian Movies|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-09-09/kirk-cameron-s-anti-abortion-film-lifemark-rides-wave-of-christian-movies|date=September 9, 2022|accessdate=September 10, 2022|last=Gilblom|first=Kelly|work=Bloomberg News|archive-date=October 2, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221002121436/https://archive.today/20221002121011/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-09-09/kirk-cameron-s-anti-abortion-film-lifemark-rides-wave-of-christian-movies |url-status=live}}

Kirk Cameron approached the Kendricks, with whom he had previously worked on Fireproof, to produce the movie after seeing David's story depicted in I Lived on Parker Avenue.{{cite news|title=Kirk Cameron challenges churches to boldly stand for life; promotes adoption in new film|url=https://www.christianpost.com/news/kirk-cameron-challenges-churches-to-stand-for-life.html|last=Klett|first=Leah MaryAnn|publisher=The Christian Post|date=August 18, 2022|accessdate=September 4, 2022|archive-date=September 4, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220904031638/https://www.christianpost.com/news/kirk-cameron-challenges-churches-to-stand-for-life.html|url-status=live}} For the time jump, the filmmakers chose to use two sets of actors to play David's birth parents, while de-aging techniques to depict David's adoptive parents.{{cite news|title='Lifemark' Is Welcome Testament to the Beauty of Adoption|url=https://www.ncregister.com/news/lifemark-is-welcome-testament-to-the-beauty-of-adoption|date=September 9, 2022|accessdate=September 10, 2022|work=National Catholic Register|last=Day|first=James|archive-date=September 9, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220909190351/https://www.ncregister.com/news/lifemark-is-welcome-testament-to-the-beauty-of-adoption|url-status=live}} "Kirk Cameron looks like a 50-year-old and a (roughly) 30-year-old – all in the same film," Crosswalk.com observed.{{cite news|title=4 Things You Should Know about Lifemark, the Kendricks' Uplifting Movie about Adoption|url=https://www.crosswalk.com/culture/features/things-you-should-know-about-lifemark-the-kendricks-uplifting-movie-about-adoption.html|date=August 26, 2022|last=Foust|first=Michael|work=Crosswalk.com|accessdate=September 3, 2022|archive-date=September 4, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220904031635/https://www.crosswalk.com/culture/features/things-you-should-know-about-lifemark-the-kendricks-uplifting-movie-about-adoption.html|url-status=live}} Coles was involved in the creative process, being invited by the producers to help evaluate actresses who would play her,{{cite news|title=Film based on Indiana woman's true story 'reclaims beauty of adoption'|url=https://cruxnow.com/cns/2022/08/film-based-on-indiana-womans-true-story-reclaims-beauty-of-adoption|last=Hoefer|first=Natalie|date=August 21, 2022|publisher=Crux|accessdate=September 4, 2022|archive-date=September 3, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220903053814/https://cruxnow.com/cns/2022/08/film-based-on-indiana-womans-true-story-reclaims-beauty-of-adoption|url-status=live}} and Long subsequently spent time with Coles preparing for the role. A novelization by Chris Fabry ({{ISBN|978-1496461278}}) was released by Tyndale House approximately one month before the film's release.{{cite web|title=Lifemark|url=https://chrisfabry.com/lifemark|work=chrisfabry.com|accessdate=September 22, 2022|archive-date=September 23, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220923034937/https://chrisfabry.com/lifemark|url-status=live}}

Alex Kendrick said that they could not secure distribution because the film concerned abortion, which Cameron attributed to studios' cowardice.{{cite web|publisher=National Religious Broadcasters|title=Kendrick Brothers' New Film 'LifeMark' Celebrates the Gift of Life|url=https://nrb.org/articles/kendrick-brothers-new-film-lifemark-celebrates-the-gift-of-life/|date=August 18, 2022|accessdate=September 5, 2022|archive-date=August 30, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220830151239/https://nrb.org/articles/kendrick-brothers-new-film-lifemark-celebrates-the-gift-of-life/|url-status=live}} In an interview with Baptist Press, executive producer Stephen Kendrick noted that "Lifemark doesn’t focus in on the dark side of abortion, it focuses in on the positive beautiful side of adoption."{{cite news|title=Kendrick Brothers' 'Lifemark' spotlights beauty of adoption|url=https://www.baptistpress.com/resource-library/news/kendrick-brothers-lifemark-spotlights-beauty-of-adoption/|last=Chandler|first=Diana|publisher=Baptist Press|date=September 2, 2022|accessdate=September 4, 2022|archive-date=September 4, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220904173138/https://www.baptistpress.com/resource-library/news/kendrick-brothers-lifemark-spotlights-beauty-of-adoption/|url-status=live}} Anti-abortion organizations such as Live Action have used the film as a jumping off point to criticize abortion.{{cite web|url=https://www.liveaction.org/news/lifemark-movie-aborted-child-blessed-others-adoption/|title=New 'Lifemark' movie showed me my aborted child could have blessed others' lives|last=Shaw|first=Tori|date=September 13, 2022|accessdate=September 28, 2022|publisher=Live Action|archive-date=September 14, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220914162728/https://www.liveaction.org/news/lifemark-movie-aborted-child-blessed-others-adoption/|url-status=live}}

Lifemark was released September 9, 2022,

through Fathom Events, for a planned one-week engagement.{{cite web|url=https://www.fathomevents.com/events/LIFEMARK|title=In Theaters Fri, Sep 9, Sat, Sep 10, Sun, Sep 11, Mon, Sep 12, Tue, Sep 13, Wed, Sep 14, Thu, Sep 15: LIFEMARK|publisher=Fathom Events|accessdate=September 4, 2022|archive-date=September 4, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220904233404/https://www.fathomevents.com/events/LIFEMARK|url-status=live}} It had its New Orleans premiere on August 28.{{cite web|url=https://www.jesuitnola.org/2022/08/15/lifemark-film-about-david-scotton-12-special-invitation-to-jesuit-community/|title=LIFEMARK Film About David Scotton '12: Special Invitation to Jesuit Community|date=August 15, 2022|publisher=Jesuit High School (New Orleans)|accessdate=September 5, 2022|archive-date=August 15, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220815133313/https://www.jesuitnola.org/2022/08/15/lifemark-film-about-david-scotton-12-special-invitation-to-jesuit-community/|url-status=live}} On September 15, 2022, it was announced that the film's theatrical run would be extended for another week.{{cite web|url=https://www.christianheadlines.com/contributors/michael-foust/faith-based-hit-lifemark-extended-in-theaters-another-week-its-bringing-hope-to-many.html|title=Faith-Based Hit Lifemark Extended in Theaters Another Week: It's Bringing Hope to Many'|publisher=Christian Headlines|accessdate=September 16, 2022|archive-date=September 16, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220916030720/https://www.christianheadlines.com/contributors/michael-foust/faith-based-hit-lifemark-extended-in-theaters-another-week-its-bringing-hope-to-many.html|url-status=live}}

Lifemark was released alongside Brahmāstra: Part One – Shiva and Barbarian, and made $855,466 from 1,560 theaters on its first day and $2.2 million in its opening weekend.{{cite web |first=Anthony |last=D'Alessandro |date=September 10, 2022 |title=Disney Movies 'Barbarian' & 'Brahmastra Part One: Shiva' Lead 2nd Lowest Weekend YTD – Saturday AM Box Office Update |url=https://deadline.com/2022/09/box-office-barbarian-brahmastra-part-one-shiva-1235114007/ |access-date=September 11, 2022 |website=Deadline Hollywood |archive-date=September 10, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220910203018/https://deadline.com/2022/09/box-office-barbarian-brahmastra-part-one-shiva-1235114007/ |url-status=live }}

{{Rotten Tomatoes prose|83|7.8|six||ref=yes|access-date=October 2, 2022}} Michael Foust of the Baptist Messenger praised Raphael Ruggero as "stellar" and opined that the "movie's first hour is as gripping as any Kendrick Brothers film ever."{{cite news|url=https://www.baptistmessenger.com/lifemark-the-kendricks-latest-movie-perfectly-captures-the-emotions-of-adoption/|title='Lifemark,' The Kendricks' Latest Movie, Perfectly Captures the Emotions of Adoption|last=Foust|first=Michael|date=August 15, 2022|accessdate=September 4, 2022|publisher=Baptist Messenger|archive-date=August 15, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220815170105/https://www.baptistmessenger.com/lifemark-the-kendricks-latest-movie-perfectly-captures-the-emotions-of-adoption/|url-status=live}} Leah Savas of World magazine criticized the film in comparison to its source material, opining that "[i]n comparison [to I Lived on Parker Avenue], the movie feels like a cheap reenactment with too-well-dressed characters living in too-well-decorated houses."{{cite news|publisher=World|title=The World and Everything in It: September 9, 2022|date=September 9, 2022|accessdate=September 9, 2022|url=https://wng.org/podcasts/the-world-and-everything-in-it-september-9-2022-1662701047|archive-date=September 9, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220909153023/https://wng.org/podcasts/the-world-and-everything-in-it-september-9-2022-1662701047|url-status=live}} Kathryn Jean Lopez disagreed, stating that it overcame her skepticism that it could "captured the beauty of the story that’s captured in real time by Parker Ave"{{cite news|url=https://www.nationalreview.com/2022/09/after-roe-we-must-treasure-adoption/|title=After Roe, We Must Treasure Adoption|last=Lopez|first=Kathryn Jean|work=National Review|date=September 19, 2022|accessdate=September 28, 2022|archive-date=September 28, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220928044243/https://www.nationalreview.com/2022/09/after-roe-we-must-treasure-adoption/|url-status=live}} National Catholic Register compared it to Unplanned and applauded the film for its wholesome mood but criticized it for lack of conflict and character development.

{{reflist}}

• {{official website|https://www.lifemarkmovie.com/}}
• {{IMDb title|20864704|Lifemark}}
• {{Rotten Tomatoes|m/lifemark|Lifemark}}

{{Kendrick Brothers}}

Category:2022 films

Category:2022 independent films

Category:2020s English-language films

Category:2020s American films

Category:American independent films

Category:Films about adoption

Category:Films about Christianity

Category:Films about religion

Category:Films set in the 1990s

Category:Films set in the 2010s

Category:English-language independent films