Christmas at Maxwell's
Encyclopedia
Christmas at Maxwell’s is a 2006 American
independent
drama film
written and directed by William C. Laufer, and starring Andrew May and Jacqueline 'Jack' Hourigan
.
) has cancer and her most recent prognosis is unfavorable. Fearing that this may be their last Christmas together, husband Andrew Austin (Andrew May) takes Suzie and their two children, Chris (Charlie May) and Mary (Julia May) to the family's summer home on Lake Erie
to celebrate the holiday. There they meet Gus (Angus May). Andrew comes to terms with his past as the family deals with his wife's failing health.
. Laufer's daughter, Tiffany Laufer, an American Film Institute
Alumna, served as cinematographer and co-producer. An advance screening was held on November 28, 2006 with all ticket proceeds going to the American Cancer Society
. The film had its official theatrical release on December 1 2006, and its television debut on Christmas Day.
wrote that even with its low budget, the film was "beautifully photographed with rich warming images of Christmas", but cautioned that themes of illness and death might be too heavy for young children. She summarized that the film was a "heartwarming holiday tale that lovingly illustrates the power of faith and the fact that miracles can and do still happen." East Valley Living reports that the film had received an award from the Dove Foundation
.
In 2010 TBN Trinity Broadcasting Network
picked up the movie for a worldwide TV release.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
independent
Independent film
An independent film, or indie film, is a professional film production resulting in a feature film that is produced mostly or completely outside of the major film studio system. In addition to being produced and distributed by independent entertainment companies, independent films are also produced...
drama film
Drama film
A drama film is a film genre that depends mostly on in-depth development of realistic characters dealing with emotional themes. Dramatic themes such as alcoholism, drug addiction, infidelity, moral dilemmas, racial prejudice, religious intolerance, poverty, class divisions, violence against women...
written and directed by William C. Laufer, and starring Andrew May and Jacqueline 'Jack' Hourigan
Jack Hourigan
Jack Hourigan is a playwright, actress, and co-host of the show How to Boil Water on the Food Network with Tyler Florence...
.
Plot
Suzie Austin (Jack HouriganJack Hourigan
Jack Hourigan is a playwright, actress, and co-host of the show How to Boil Water on the Food Network with Tyler Florence...
) has cancer and her most recent prognosis is unfavorable. Fearing that this may be their last Christmas together, husband Andrew Austin (Andrew May) takes Suzie and their two children, Chris (Charlie May) and Mary (Julia May) to the family's summer home on Lake Erie
Lake Erie
Lake Erie is the fourth largest lake of the five Great Lakes in North America, and the tenth largest globally. It is the southernmost, shallowest, and smallest by volume of the Great Lakes and therefore also has the shortest average water residence time. It is bounded on the north by the...
to celebrate the holiday. There they meet Gus (Angus May). Andrew comes to terms with his past as the family deals with his wife's failing health.
Background
The film is based upon Laufer's real-life experiences and was shot on locations in OhioOhio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
. Laufer's daughter, Tiffany Laufer, an American Film Institute
American Film Institute
The American Film Institute is an independent non-profit organization created by the National Endowment for the Arts, which was established in 1967 when President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities Act...
Alumna, served as cinematographer and co-producer. An advance screening was held on November 28, 2006 with all ticket proceeds going to the American Cancer Society
American Cancer Society
The American Cancer Society is the "nationwide community-based voluntary health organization" dedicated, in their own words, "to eliminating cancer as a major health problem by preventing cancer, saving lives, and diminishing suffering from cancer, through research, education, advocacy, and...
. The film had its official theatrical release on December 1 2006, and its television debut on Christmas Day.
Partial cast
- Andrew May as Andrew Austin
- Jack HouriganJack HouriganJack Hourigan is a playwright, actress, and co-host of the show How to Boil Water on the Food Network with Tyler Florence...
as Suzie Austin - Helen Welch as Rachel Henderson
- Rick Montgomery Jr. as Dr. Callahan
- Tracie Field as Tootsie
- Robert Hawkes as Col. Pickerling
- Angus May as Uncle Gus
- Charlie May as Chris Austin
- Julia May as Mary Austin
- William C. Laufer as Fr. Johnston
Reception
Belinda Elliott of CBNChristian Broadcasting Network
The Christian Broadcasting Network, or CBN, is a fundamentalist Christian television broadcasting network in the United States. Its headquarters and main studios are in Virginia Beach, Virginia.-Background:...
wrote that even with its low budget, the film was "beautifully photographed with rich warming images of Christmas", but cautioned that themes of illness and death might be too heavy for young children. She summarized that the film was a "heartwarming holiday tale that lovingly illustrates the power of faith and the fact that miracles can and do still happen." East Valley Living reports that the film had received an award from the Dove Foundation
Dove Foundation
rightThe Dove Foundation is a registered United States tax deductible non-profit organization based in Grand Rapids, Michigan known among other programs for its activities of rating, reviewing and endorsing films and for campaigning against the portrayal of sexual activity and violence in Hollywood...
.
In 2010 TBN Trinity Broadcasting Network
Trinity Broadcasting Network
The Trinity Broadcasting Network is a major American Christian television network. TBN is based in Costa Mesa, California, with auxiliary studio facilities in Irving, Texas; Hendersonville, Tennessee; Gadsden, Alabama; Decatur, Georgia; Miami, Florida; Tulsa, Oklahoma; Orlando, Florida; and New...
picked up the movie for a worldwide TV release.
External links
- Christmas At Maxwells at Rotten TomatoesRotten TomatoesRotten Tomatoes is a website devoted to reviews, information, and news of films—widely known as a film review aggregator. Its name derives from the cliché of audiences throwing tomatoes and other vegetables at a poor stage performance...
- Official Website
- Lauferfilm.com Production website