Healing Henry

A broken man finds meaning and faith in Henry Poole Is Here | Megan Basham

Overture Films

Henry Poole is Here is one of those rare movies that seems so indifferent to appealing to any target demographic, one wonders how it managed to get made at all.

It isn't a mere inoffensive "family film." It wasn't made by anyone associated with Phil Anschutz or any Christian or Christian-friendly studios, and it doesn't carry a specific salvation message. Instead it is a quiet, introspective story that, clumsily at some times and heartbreakingly at others, explores a broken man's search for meaning and the gift of faith.

When Henry (Luke Wilson) buys a house in lower-middle-class California, his only intention is to find a private place to drink and despair. But almost moments after he moves in, a "miracle" in his backyard prevents him from following his plan. While delivering a plate of welcome-to-the-neighborhood tamales, his neighbor Esperanza (Adriana Barraza) sees what she believes is the face of Christ in a stain on the stucco of Henry's house. Soon, Henry has not only Esperanza's interfering to deal with, but that of "believers" who trek to his backyard to worship and find healing at the foot of the stain.