Death Row Inmates Fight Back Tears Watching Faith-Based ‘Home Run’ Film

Home Run, a faith-based movie scheduled to hit theaters April 19, received “an overwhelmingly positive response” during a recent screening for inmates of the country’s largest prison at the Louisiana State Penitentiary (LSP) in Angola, La.

Produced by Impact Productions, Home Run, about an alcoholic baseball hotshot who finds redemption in an unlikely place, features the tag line: “With God, it’s never too late … freedom is possible.”

The film won the Best Feature Film and Best Inspirational Film categories of the inaugural Resonate Film Festival during the International Christian Retail Show in Orlando, Fla., last summer. David C Cook released a novelization by Travis Thrasher of the movie with the same title this month.

More than 800 death row inmates watched Home Run in the chapel of LSP, “many of whom fought back tears and were very vocal in their praise of the film and its message,” according to organizers of the screening.

“We all live to a degree with what you see in Home Run,” said Burl Cain, who has served as LSP’s warden since 1995. “It’s how we deal with the adversity and what has happened in our lives, or it will carry on into the next generation. We have to break the cycle. This is what we see in prison; we break the cycle. This movie helps us break the cycle.”

The film highlights Celebrate Recovery, a 12-step addiction recovery program based on Christian principles that grew out of Southern California’s Saddleback Church and is now found in churches worldwide.

Samuel Goldwyn Films in association with Provident Films have partnered in the marketing and distribution of the film. Goldwyn and Provident’s previous faith-based movie partnerships included Fireproof, October Baby and Facing the Giants.