Synopsis

After the death of his beloved grandfather, ten-year-old Joshua Beal begins searching for God and answers about death, faith, and the possibility of an afterlife. At his Catholic school in Philadelphia, Joshua investigates different beliefs while dealing with grief, school troubles, and the guidance of his mischievous best friend and a compassionate nun.

Factoids & Trivia

• The film was shot in 1995 but was not released theatrically until March 20, 1998, after a lengthy delay during post-production.

• It was the first major-studio release following the independently produced Praying with Anger and was distributed by Miramax Films.

• Several school scenes were filmed at Waldron Mercy Academy in Lower Merion, Pennsylvania.

• Composer Edmund Choi's score features the American Boychoir, giving the film's religious setting a prominent choral sound.

• The film was released before its creator's breakthrough with The Sixth Sense in 1999 and initially received little attention. Its later reputation has largely been shaped by interest in this early, markedly different work.