Lifted

Lifted

Year: 2010

Runtime: 108 mins

Language: English

Director: Lexi Alexander

DramaFamilyMusic

A single leap can shift heaven and earth. When a Southern middle‑schooler gets the chance to shine in a singing competition, it offers a much‑needed boost amid bullying, family turmoil, and the shocking news that his reservist father has been redeployed to Afghanistan.

Hopeful
Bittersweet ending
Moderately emotional
Medium intensity
Steady pacing
Simple story

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Timeline & Setting – Lifted (2010)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Lifted (2010). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

The events occur in a contemporary, present-day setting in Alabama, following a school-age boy as he navigates family challenges and school life. The story moves between a small-town home, a Baptist church, and the Birmingham stage where the talent competition unfolds. It captures everyday life, community support, and the emotional stakes of pursuing a dream.

Location

Alabama, Birmingham

The story is set in a small town in Alabama, with a Baptist church acting as a community hub. Birmingham is where Henry travels for the Alabama Teen Star Quest, drawing locals and media attention. The setting highlights Southern life, modest means, and the healing power of music and faith.

🌆 Southern US ⛪ Community 🎨 Arts

Last Updated: November 22, 2025 at 15:37

Main Characters – Lifted (2010)

Meet the key characters of Lifted (2010), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Henry Matthews (Uriah Shelton)

Henry is a bullied middle-schooler with a rare singing talent who finds sanctuary in his church. His journey blends moral courage with fragility as he copes with family instability and the pressure of a national competition. He learns to trust mentors and to harness music as a lifeline and a path to self-belief.

🎤 Singing 🧭 Mentor 💪 Resilience

William Matthews (Dash Mihok)

William is a garage mechanic who doubles as a Reserve soldier, deployed to Afghanistan. His absence tests the family’s stability while his spirit becomes a guiding presence for Henry. He embodies duty, love, and the belief that faith can bridge long separations.

🪖 Military family 🧭 Guidance 🕊️ Sacrifice

Lisa Matthews (Nicki Aycox)

Lisa struggles with addiction while trying to keep her family together, attending therapy sessions and keeping up appearances. Her choices create tension at home and threaten financial stability, but she strives toward sobriety and connection. Her relationship with Henry anchors the emotional core of the story.

💊 Addiction 👩‍👧 Family 🌧️ Struggle

Pastor Johnson (Ruben Studdard)

Pastor Johnson mentors Henry at the Baptist church, recognizing the boy’s vocal gifts and guiding him toward a national stage. He provides spiritual and practical support, including the push toward the audition. His faith-based leadership helps Henry find courage in difficult moments.

🕍 Church guidance 🎶 Music mentorship 🙌 Faith

Clayton (Jonathan Fuller)

Clayton is a loyal friend from William’s unit who witnesses the family’s struggles and supports Henry from afar. He becomes a conduit for William’s message after learning about Henry’s journey, helping to bridge connections between service, family, and the hopes of a rising star.

🤝 Comrade 🪖 Loyalty 📨 Support

Last Updated: November 22, 2025 at 15:37

Major Themes – Lifted (2010)

Explore the central themes of Lifted (2010), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🕊️ Family & Loss

Henry endures a fractured family life—his mother’s addiction, his father’s deployment, and the emotional toll of secrets. The film explores how parental absence and loss shape a child’s resilience, creativity, and trust. The ghostly return of his father offers a fragile thread of guidance and hope amid hardship.

🎼 Music & Faith

Singing becomes Henry’s voice for relief and identity, nurtured by Pastor Johnson and the church. Music acts as a bridge between fear and courage, drawing the boy into a larger community. The church setting frames faith as a source of mentorship, discipline, and purpose.

🤝 Resilience & Community

The community rallies around Henry, offering support through mentors, friends, and faith traditions. The local talent quest becomes a proving ground where neighbors help propel a young singer forward. The film emphasizes shared responsibility and collective hope in tough times.

🌟 Dreams & Ambition

Henry’s dream of becoming a star motivates him to persevere through danger and hardship. The Alabama Teen Star Quest stands as a milestone that tests his resolve and showcases his talent. Guidance from mentors and family challenges shape his journey toward a possible future in music.

🪖 Duty & Sacrifice

William’s deployment to Afghanistan underscores the toll of military service on families left behind. The story threads duty, fear, and sacrifice as Henry tries to reconcile his father’s absence with his own rising visibility. The idea of sacrifice extends beyond the battlefield to personal choices and the protection of loved ones.

Last Updated: November 22, 2025 at 15:37

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Explore Movie Threads

Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.

Movies About Music as Solace like Lifted

Stories where characters find their strength and healing through the power of music.If you enjoyed how Lifted used a singing competition to provide hope amid sorrow, you'll appreciate these movies. They are similar feel-good dramas and heartfelt family stories where characters use music to overcome grief, bullying, or hardship, offering an uplifting and hopeful experience.

hopefulheartfeltupliftingresilientmelancholicinspiring

Narrative Summary

The narrative follows a protagonist navigating significant personal challenges—such as loss, family issues, or bullying—who discovers an outlet and a source of inner strength in music. Their artistic journey runs parallel to their emotional one, culminating in a performance or achievement that signifies healing and resilience.

Why These Movies?

Movies are grouped here because they share a core theme of music as a therapeutic and empowering force against adversity. They balance emotional weight with a hopeful tone, using a steady, character-driven pace to focus on personal growth and the transformative power of art.

Bittersweet Coming-of-Age Stories like Lifted

Young protagonists mature through profound loss, finding hope on the other side of sadness.Looking for more movies like Lifted that deal with grief and family turmoil? This collection features similar heartfelt dramas about young people facing parental loss or deployment. These films share a steady pace, medium emotional intensity, and a bittersweet yet hopeful ending feel.

bittersweetheartfeltmelancholicresilienthopefulemotional

Narrative Summary

The story centers on a child or teenager whose world is upended by a traumatic event, often a parent's death or absence. Their coming-of-age arc is accelerated by this hardship, forcing them to confront complex emotions and family dynamics. The resolution acknowledges the permanent scar of the loss while celebrating the strength and new beginnings that have emerged.

Why These Movies?

These films are united by their specific emotional blend: they tackle heavy themes like grief and addiction within a family context, but always through the lens of a young person's resilience. The tone is ultimately hopeful, the pacing is steady, and the endings are bittersweet, creating a coherent and impactful viewing experience.

Unlock the Full Story of Lifted

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Lifted Summary

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Lifted Summary

Lifted Timeline

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Lifted Timeline

Lifted Spoiler-Free Summary

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Lifted Spoiler-Free Summary

More About Lifted

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