Official Promotional Image / somethingtostandfor.movie
Mike Rowe’s talent for storytelling is on full display in the new feature “Something to Stand For.” Perfect for the Fourth of July weekend, the film features several short stories highlighting heroic patriotism and unsung heroes of the past.
Viewers will enjoy the non-partisan way that Rowe celebrates American history through the lives of the individuals in the stories. Expect to walk away from the film with a heart full of patriotic pride and a fresh reminder that human history is written by the courage of ordinary individuals!
The movie is narrated by Mike Rowe (of “Dirty Jobs” fame), whose enthusiasm and deep love for our country is clearly visible. Human storytelling is central to the strength of this film. Each historical vignette is visually present, but the audio is Rowe’s narration as he sits in an empty theater. Although this format can feel a little clunky and distracting at times, it serves as the canvas for the various historical twists and turns to be fully showcased.
The content of the stories could easily have been translated into a podcast format, but, nonetheless, viewers can still enjoy the visual dimension despite its superfluity. The format will keep viewers guessing and rethinking as the mystery unfolds before them. Even seasoned history buffs will enjoy the opportunity to revisit key historical moments through a fresh perspective.
Besides featuring historical stories, Rowe also visits the nation’s capital to walk the steps of the varied monuments. As Catholics, we should take particular interest in helping to preserve the value of the symbolic and ceremonial. The rich sacramental worldview upheld by Catholicism is often at odds with the Protestant ideals of mainstream America. However, there are key moments where this value is undisputed. The beautiful architecture of monuments, the festival spirit of holiday celebrations, and the ceremonial honoring of virtuous actions all point to something beyond this world. We do not celebrate because it is efficient, but rather, we celebrate because creation is fundamentally good!
In our frustration with present-day politics, it can be far too easy to dismiss the goodness still present in so many dimensions of American life and history. “Something to Stand For” gives you a few morsels of American goodness that will reawaken your appetite for American pride!
The film is a wholesome and unifying reflection on the land of the free and the home of the brave.
To find out more, click HERE.
