Redeeming love is a powerful love story

Based on the bestselling novel by Francine Rivers, this film is a period drama which captures true love in the era of the California Gold Rush.

The Gold Rush is a time in American history characterised by the rapid influx of fortune seekers into California that began after gold was found at Sutter's Mill in early 1848, reaching its peak in 1852.

However, that only provides context. This is a love story is inspired by the Biblical story of Hosea, a prophet, who married Gomer, an unfaithful woman.

So now you know, it is a Christian tale. But with an all-embracing message which goes beyond evangelising to make a connection with God on a deeply personal level for one and all.

“Redeeming Love” starts with the whore not with a heart of gold but with golden hair streaking down her shoulders.

She is called Angel (played Abigail Cowen) and she meets her angel in Michael Hosea (Tom Lewis).

Before Angel finds Michael and Michael finds Angel, however, Angel is the most desirable prostitute in town.

She is so desirable that there’s a daily lottery involving men who want to “bump uglies” with her.

Her life rises and falls between the sheets as a wholly sexualised, soulless existence where one other prostitute in the brothel where she vends of body tells her, “You’ve got to hope for something more in this world.”

To which Angel replies, “I never look back and never look forward.”

She has had a terrible life; it’s been hell on earth.

Her father disowned her, she lost her mother, who was also a prostitute, to a nasty wasting disease. Then, to make matters worse, she started whoring when she was about 8 years old.

To say she is damaged goods is to understate matters; here’s a lady who even slept with her own father to punish him for abandoning her!

She seems like the very definition of the whore of Babylon, beyond redemption.

Then she meets Michael.

He is a farmer who prays for a wife as he salts the earth with his purity.

When he sees Angel, he falls in love immediately. However, she is too traumatised to love anyone, including herself or Michael the “dirt farmer”.

That’s because he is the day to her night.

However, the beauty of this story is not that opposites attract but that love doesn’t ask questions when it can provide answers beyond all the hurt, suicide, sexual violence and child molestation.

They say God sends His best soldiers into the most bitter wars. And so it is with Angel and Michael, who meet betrayal with a forgiveness that is truly inspirational.

Both of them really suffer, then love binds their wounds with the unbreakable bonds of faith.

The story arc of this film bends towards reminding us all that God’s love is infinite and we are all deserving of it, even when everything inside us tells us that we are not.