Shelly, a troubled orphan; Ben, a lonely old man; an honest police officer; and an indecisive social worker. At first glance, a strange group. Upon closer inspection, their intertwined fates lead to healing and a touching conclusion.

Shelly is a twelve-year-old girl whose mother has died. She runs away from her abusive foster parents. She ends up at a dilapidated ranch, where she immediately finds herself caught up in some pretty wild events. Old Ben, a typical grouch and loner, lives on the ranch. Her foster parents begin searching for the missing girl. Later, a local police officer and a social worker named Caroline also join the search.

Shelly stays to live with Ben. She forms a bond with a young mare, whom she names Orphan. Ben successfully denies having seen Shelly when those searching for her arrive at his property.

At regular intervals, Shelly and Ben have heated exchanges. One day, things come to a head, and Shelly decides to leave Ben as well. By coincidence, Caroline arrives by car and hits Orphan. Things quickly start to unfold. A connection emerges between characters who, at first glance, seem distant, helping everyone achieve breakthroughs in their relationships.

Love, forgiveness, healing, and a courageous sacrifice are the culmination of this heartwarming family film.

At first, the film is slower and more meandering. In the third act, it begins to pick up the right pace.

Drama / Family

USA, 2018, 98 min

Crew: Sean McNamara

Cast: Jon Voight, Alexa Nisenson, Vail Bloom, Eva La Rue, Philip Boyd, Isabella Blake-Thomas, Mary Charles Miller, Brooks Roseberry

Parents Guide

Several scenes featuring women in tight pants.

Threats to beat someone with a belt. Scars on a little girl’s back from being whipped with a belt. One instance of a punch to the face. A horse is shot.

The swear word “damn” is used several times. A few instances of kissing.

A girl ran away from her abusive step-parents. One somewhat awkward amateur scene with wolves that did nothing to the girl lying on the ground—even though she was within their reach—but seriously injured a horse behind a fence. Occasional rude behavior by Shelly toward Ben or lying.

It’s worthwhile to support quality art by purchasing it. Supporting good cinema not only helps create high-quality films but is also a sign of integrity and respect toward the filmmakers.