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Characters & Themes

All Saints (2017) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

Release, runtime and language
2017 · 108 min · English
Echo score 67
JustWatch #26,370 4
Directed by
Steve Gomer
Starring
Cara Buono, Nelson Lee, John Corbett, John Newberg, David Keith, Gregory Alan Williams
Budget
$2M

During the Christmas season, R&B singer Lisette faces a public scandal stemming from a misunderstanding. As she tries to navigate the fallout, her complicated past resurfaces when an ex-boyfriend arrives in New Orleans for the holidays. She must confront painful memories and relationship challenges while striving to regain control of her life and career.

On this page (8)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Characters explained (2)
  3. 3 Where & when it takes place
  4. 4 Themes & meaning (3)
  5. 5 Character & meaning questions
  6. 6 Movie threads
  7. 7 Movies like All Saints
  8. 8 Every angle

Where to watch

Where to Watch All Saints (2017)

Where can you watch All Saints? Stream, rent or buy it in the US, including on Angel Studios, Tubi TV and Amazon Video: current JustWatch availability with up-to-date prices.

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2 main characters · contains spoilers

All Saints Characters Explained: Who Is Who

The main characters of All Saints (2017), heroes and villains: what drives them, how they change over the course of the story and what each of them reveals about the film's bigger ideas.

  • Michael Spurlock (John Corbett)

    Michael Spurlock is a determined and compassionate character who transitions from corporate life to lead a struggling church. His journey reflects a deep commitment to community service and ethical decision-making, as he learns to embrace faith over practicality.

    • ✝️ Faith
    • 💼 Career Change
    • 🌟 Leadership
  • Karen

    The Karen community represents resilience and hope, embodying the struggles and dreams of refugees. Their arrival challenges Michael to rethink the purpose of the church, showcasing their contribution to the community's revival.

    • 🇲🇲 Refugees
    • 🌍 Cultural Exchange
    • ☀️ New Beginnings

Last updated: October 22, 2024 at 21:02

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Setting

Where and When Does All Saints Take Place?

The setting of All Saints (2017): the year and time period, the places and locations, and how they shape the characters, the mood and the tension of the story.

Time period

The film presents a contemporary setting where themes of community and faith are significant. It illustrates the struggles and transformations occurring in modern society as individuals navigate personal and ethical dilemmas.

Location

All Saints Church, Burma

All Saints Church is a quaint country church facing closure due to dwindling membership. The surrounding land, deemed valuable by developers, becomes a symbol of hope when it is transformed into a thriving farm, supporting both the church and the Karen refugee community.

  • ⛪ Church
  • 🌾 Nature

Last updated: October 22, 2024 at 21:02

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3 major themes

All Saints Meaning: Themes & Message Explained

What is All Saints (2017) really about? The emotional, social and philosophical themes the film keeps returning to, its symbolism and the message beneath the surface.

  • Community

    The film emphasizes the importance of community, showcasing how collective efforts can lead to transformative outcomes. Through collaboration with the Karen refugees, the church finds a renewed purpose, highlighting the power of unity in facing challenges.

  • Faith

    Faith plays a central role, as Michael Spurlock must listen to his inner calling versus the expectations of those around him. His journey illustrates the courage to embrace uncertainty and the profound impacts of following one's convictions.

  • Resilience

    Resilience is a key theme as the characters navigate the trials of church closure and personal sacrifice. The transformation of the church land into a productive farm symbolizes growth and hope in the midst of adversity.

Last updated: October 22, 2024 at 21:02

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Character & theme questions

All Saints Characters & Meaning: Your Questions Answered

The questions people ask about All Saints (2017): who the characters really are, their relationships, what the symbols mean, where it takes place and what the movie is really about. Each answer contains spoilers.

Q1

Where is All Saints Church located?

All Saints Church is a small, quaint country church in Burma facing closure due to declining membership. The surrounding land becomes central to the story when it's transformed into a thriving farm that supports both the church community and the Karen refugee population.

  • all saints church
  • burma
  • setting
  • location
  • church
Q2

What time period does the movie take place in?

The film is set in contemporary times, during the Christmas season. It presents a modern setting where themes of community and faith intersect with current societal issues like refugee integration and rural church sustainability.

  • contemporary
  • modern
  • christmas
  • time period
  • era
Q3

What are the main themes in All Saints?

The movie explores three interconnected themes: Community (how collective efforts lead to transformative outcomes through collaboration with Karen refugees), Faith (the courage to follow one's convictions versus practical expectations), and Resilience (growth and hope emerging from adversity through the transformation of church land into a productive farm).

  • themes
  • community
  • faith
  • resilience
  • meaning
Q4

Who is Michael Spurlock in All Saints?

Michael Spurlock, played by John Corbett, is the central character who transitions from corporate life to become the leader of a struggling church. His journey reflects a deep commitment to community service and ethical decision-making as he learns to embrace faith over practicality.

  • michael spurlock
  • john corbett
  • character
  • pastor
  • leader
Q5

Who are the Karen refugees in the movie?

The Karen community in the film represents resilience and hope, embodying the struggles and dreams of real refugees. Their arrival challenges Michael Spurlock to rethink the purpose of the church, and their contribution to the farm becomes central to the community's revival.

  • karen
  • refugees
  • community
  • immigrant
  • burma
Q6

Why is the church facing closure?

All Saints Church faces closure due to dwindling membership and financial struggles common to rural churches. The surrounding land, deemed valuable by developers, becomes a symbol of both threat and opportunity as the congregation seeks a way to survive.

  • church closure
  • financial struggle
  • membership
  • developers
  • land
Q7

How does the farm help save the church?

The church land is transformed into a thriving farm that provides practical support to both the congregation and the Karen refugee community. This collective agricultural effort gives the church a renewed sense of purpose and financial stability, turning potential closure into a story of renewal.

  • farm
  • church salvation
  • agriculture
  • community
  • revival
Q8

What does the movie say about faith?

The film portrays faith as requiring courage to embrace uncertainty. Michael Spurlock must listen to his inner calling rather than simply meeting external expectations. His journey illustrates how following one's convictions, even when impractical, can lead to profound positive impacts for an entire community.

  • faith
  • calling
  • belief
  • courage
  • conviction
Q9

What is the tone and emotional weight of the film?

All Saints has a hopeful, uplifting tone with medium emotional weight. While the story addresses genuine struggles including refugee hardship and financial difficulty, it maintains a positive atmosphere through communal support and determined perseverance, culminating in a happy ending where the farm succeeds and the church is saved.

  • tone
  • emotional
  • hopeful
  • uplifting
  • mood

Movie threads

More Movies Like All Saints, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes All Saints tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Inspiring True Stories of Faith Like All Saints

Inspiring dramas where ordinary people overcome adversity through faith and community. Discover movies like All Saints that are based on incredible true events. These films celebrate the triumph of the human spirit, often centered on communities or individuals guided by faith as they overcome real-world adversity, offering hopeful and encouraging viewing experiences.

  • inspiring
  • faith-driven
  • heartfelt
  • community-focused
  • encouraging
  • triumphant
  • Tone: hopeful, uplifting, earnest
  • Pacing: steady, deliberate
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative pattern follows a straightforward, character-driven arc where a crisis or challenge is met with a leap of faith. The central conflict is not about defeating a villain, but about overcoming practical obstacles like financial ruin or social injustice through perseverance, collaboration, and unwavering belief, leading to a tangible, positive outcome.

Why they belong together: These movies are grouped by their shared foundation in true stories, their hopeful and uplifting tone, and their focus on themes of resilience, community building, and the practical application of faith. They offer a consistently inspiring and heartfelt emotional experience.

Movies About Community Building Like All Saints

Stories of struggling communities finding new purpose and unity. If you liked the community spirit in All Saints, explore other films about groups coming together against the odds. These stories feature heartfelt collaborations, the integration of diverse people, and the uplifting journey of saving a local institution, focusing on unity and shared purpose.

  • community-focused
  • heartfelt
  • uplifting
  • collaborative
  • hopeful
  • inspiring
  • Tone: hopeful, heartfelt, earnest
  • Pacing: steady, character-driven
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The plot revolves around a specific, tangible goal to save a community hub (like a farm, church, or business) from closure. The journey involves uniting disparate individuals, often overcoming initial skepticism, to work towards a common objective. The conflict is external (financial struggle) and internal (doubt), resolved through collective effort and newfound solidarity.

Why they belong together: They share a specific narrative structure of a community's revival, a steady, heartfelt pacing, and a medium emotional weight balanced by a genuinely uplifting and hopeful mood. The focus is on the process of building something together rather than on individual heroics.

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Movies Like All Saints

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Every angle

All Saints (2017) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about All Saints in one place: what happens in the plot summary, the timeline in chronological order, the characters and meaning and a spoiler-free summary. What's After the Movie adds the cast, box office and post-credit scenes.

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