When the filmmakers behind “Last Ounce of Courage” first encountered the screenplay four years ago, they had no idea the movie would eventually be released at such a timely and relevant moment in history.
But the film’s themes – about sacrifices at home and overseas to protect freedom – suddenly seem ripped right from the latest headlines.
“We didn’t know all this was going to be happening on our Sept. 14 release date,” said Veritas Entertainment President Steve Griffin in an exclusive WND interview, “the things happening in Egypt and Libya, the things transpiring over the last few days, where people are apologizing for America and the freedom of speech. We didn’t know that God was going to be removed from political party platforms and put back in.
“When the screenplay came in, it did become a way to honor our military,” Griffin said, “yet with all that’s going on across the world stage right now, it’s important that we never forget these brave men and women that serve our country overseas – and even now our diplomats – may be required to give their ‘last ounce of courage’ in the defense of keeping our liberties and everything we believe in free here in the U.S.”
Griffin was referring to the recent surge of attacks on American embassies in Muslim nations, violence that has resulted in several deaths, including that of Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens and three others in Libya. Many news outlets have blamed the attacks on an anti-Muslim movie posted on YouTube titled “Innocence of Muslims,” and the controversy has prompted calls for U.S. action to silence the film.
Griffin’s mention of political platforms refers to the 2012 Democratic National Convention controversy, in which a reference to God was removed from the party platform, only to reinstated over a chorus of boos from the convention floor.
Both incidents bring into question whether the free expression of Christianity will continue to be tolerated in America and the world, a question right at the heart of “Last Ounce of Courage.”
“The message of this movie is a dialogue to talk about this idea of freedom and the religious liberties and freedom of speech protected by the Constitution,” Griffin told WND.
“When guys come back from service, they see Americans sitting on their hands doing nothing and not defending the very freedoms they go fight for,” continued Griffin. “That became the genesis of this story, and it really is a movie that honors our veterans and our military people and their families.”
Read a review of “Last Ounce of Courage” that addresses Christians and soldiers, and get a sneak peak at reactions to the project.
“Last Ounce of Courage,” which is the only film ever to earn the “Chuck Norris Seal of Approval,” revolves around the mayor of a small town who is chagrined by the apathy that is eroding America’s basic freedoms. But the memory of his own son’s sacrifice in uniform, his boy’s death to protect his father’s freedom, prompts the mayor to fly in the face of political correctness and make a stand for religious liberty – in this case, the celebration of a national holiday called Christmas.
Yet Griffin told WND the film isn’t just another “Christmas wars” project, but a study into the character of a man confronted by his own fight – or lack thereof – for freedom.
“As we looked at the script, we wanted to portray the story as close to real life as possible, and in real life, the good guys don’t always win,” Griffin said. “The mayor’s trying to make the point that it’s not a violation of the Constitution, there’s not any law prohibiting religious expression. Christmas, in this example, is a federal and legal holiday, and we should be allowed to practice it.
“But that story doesn’t always end well,” Griffin said. “He stuck his head up out of the foxhole. In reality sometimes today, when you do that, bad things happen.”
Such as?
“The movie shows what happens to many city councils and schools,” Griffin said, “where they back down to opposition: ‘OK, we got a letter [from an attorney]. You win, we lose.’ And then they move on. No one wants to fight the battle. They cower into those things.
“We’re tying to show that we’re going to have to stand up and retake our freedoms, even if the courts won’t allow it,” Griffin said. “It’s a call to action, to say, ‘Do we want to give our first ounce of courage, as I like to call it, here in America to defend the liberties our brave men and women are dying for?'”
The movie’s trailer can be seen below:
“Last Ounce of Courage” opens today in select theaters around the country. Visit the “Last Ounce of Courage” website to learn where the film is playing near you.
