The Shepherd (2023) Movie Review – A magical reminder of the bravery and sacrifice of others

Directed by Iain Softley and based on a story by Frederick Forsyth, this new film currently streaming on Disney+ is a heartwarming tale about a young pilot who finds hope when all hope seems lost.

After setting off from an RAF base in North Germany on Christmas Eve in 1957, his flight home is curtailed by heavy fog and an onboard malfunction which renders his plane’s radio and compass unusable. 

With limited fuel, Freddie thinks his days might be numbered. But an unexpected encounter with the pilot (John Travolta) of a WWII-era Mosquito Fighter plane gives him some hope that he might make it home to his girlfriend and family in time for Christmas. 

On the surface, this is a film about a Christmas miracle. After pleading to God for help, Freddie receives that help in the most surprising way when he encounters his passing saviour. With popular Christmas songs on the soundtrack, a cold wintry setting, and a magical story that will enchant all but the most miserly Grinch in your life, you’re bound to find yourself in a festive mood when you watch this heartwarming story. 

But this is more than just another Christmas film with a sprinkling of magic to fill you with hope during the holiday season. In a tale that features a WWII pilot who still seems to be on active duty years after the war is over, this is also a film that pays homage to the bravery of the real-life pilots who risked their lives (and sometimes made sacrifices) to help those who were in aerial peril. These aspects lend the film a bittersweet feel, as while it is a story of love and Christmas miracles, it’s also a reminder of the dangers associated with wartime aviation.

At just under 40 minutes long, this short film does a far more successful job at evoking the Christmas spirit than recent streaming releases Dashing Through The Snow and Best. Christmas. Ever. It’s a beautifully made film, with real imagination put into the presentation of the story, which isn’t something that can be said of the aforementioned titles that are the festive movie equivalent of Christmas gifts that have been hastily wrapped up with little thought for the people they have been bought for. 

So, if you are looking for a short but meaningful film to watch over the holiday season, The Shepherd can be recommended. It might even give you the incentive to act as the shepherd for the people in your life; those folk who have gone astray and need a little bit of guidance to remind them that there are people in the world who will act with sacrificial kindness for those who are in trouble. 

Read More: The Shepherd Ending Explained

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