False Hopes

First released in the US as 'False Hopes' and later retitled 'About Hope', 'False Hopes' is a Christian romantic comedy written and directed by David D. Dietrich for Creator Films, a small studio of believers who say they want to make films for the world, not just for the church. Its hero is a man who has had a checklist for his future wife since he was twelve.

Thomas McKenzie is a photographer, close to his family and in the habit of turning down every woman his mother finds for him. He's even painted a portrait of his ideal match. Then Hope Sanchez walks into his studio: she's building her own publishing business and raising her daughter Grace alone. She doesn't tick every box, but they start seeing each other and the list begins to matter less and less.

That's when Desiree Sinclair turns up, a bestselling author on Hope's books who looks a lot like the woman in his painting. She could also give his career a real push, though getting close to her comes at a price. Caught between the two, Thomas has to work out what he's really after, helped by his father, who sees God's will as a compass rather than a map.

Justin Ray plays Thomas, with Christine Juarbe as Hope, Claire Bermingham as Desiree and Aaron Groben and Katy Bodenhamer in support. After a small US cinema run in January 2021 it moved to digital, and in the UK it can be rented or bought on Apple TV. Faith outlets liked its characters and its message about selfishness, while Movieguide pointed to shaky camerawork and editing that give away the low budget.

• Romance
• Comedy