Davina Marques

I found this film deeply emotional and personally resonant. However, it’s likely to be controversial among Jehovah’s Witnesses, as it doesn’t portray their stance on blood transfusions in a favorable light. One small detail to note is that Jehovah’s Witnesses don’t refer to their places of worship as churches, but as Kingdom Halls. The building shown in the film didn’t resemble a typical Kingdom Hall, at least from my experience growing up. However, Kingdom Halls can vary in appearance, so this might not be a major issue. Another point is that the film didn’t delve into the scriptural basis for their rejection of blood transfusions. But does that really matter? The film captured the essence of their belief: that they view blood from others as impure, and many parents would refuse it even if it meant losing their child. The film highlighted the heartbreaking reality that, for some, religious convictions can outweigh even the deepest love and desire to protect a child. Whether or not the Bible verses were included doesn’t change that truth—scriptures wouldn’t have swayed me, and they don’t alter the facts. When I was younger, my parents gave me a medical card to show doctors in case something similar happened to me. While I understand that alternative treatments should be explored first, if a blood transfusion is the best option for survival, I would choose it for my child, because life itself is sacred and a gift from God. And while I’m not religious, even from a religious perspective, I would still prioritise life. Many comments have focused on how the religion is portrayed, but I think people are missing the point—this film is about the boy’s story. It’s not about demonising a belief system, but about showing how his world crumbled when his parents were willing to let him die for their beliefs. His will to live faded because everything he knew was shattered, leaving him questioning whether life had any meaning in the world he was once part of. This story isn’t about hate toward a religion; it’s about the profound, personal impact on a boy struggling with the reality of his experience. Not agreeing with one rule, will raises questions left unanswered and it will of course makes you question what’s left of your faith. But choosing to live is no reason to be outcasted by everything and everyone ever known, I don’t see love there. Seems to me that these are man made rules from their own interpretation of the bible and you can pick and choose what you take from the scriptures. Times have changed along the years because now you can speak to those who were outcast, so who makes these rules? Ultimately, this film challenges us to consider how faith, love, and life intersect, and what happens when those values are in conflict.