A Tale of Two Films

Even as work progresses on Fellowship for Performing Arts’ second film on the life of C.S. Lewis, the first film – The Most Reluctant Convert: The Untold Story of C.S. Lewis, launched in 2021 – continues to engage viewers around the world.

The film has almost 4,000 reviews on Amazon Prime, and they keep coming in. The comments touch every aspect of the film: the production quality, the story, the direction. And beyond that, it is clear viewers are truly engaged and inspired by Lewis’ spiritual journey.

The story follows Lewis from his earliest days, the devastating death of his mother from cancer, the fraught relationship that resulted with his father, atheism, the horrors of World War I, academic success and the realization that for Lewis, something was missing.

He called it “Joy.” The movie follows his fascinating, brave and intellectually rigorous journey to realize his atheism, or materialism, could not account for his rational mind, or his yearnings for meaning, purpose and joy that were undeniably within him.

And through his journey, first to a vague deism, then to belief in one true God with personality and power – he said his religion was like that of the Jews – and, finally, to Jesus Christ, we find in Lewis’ conversion an uplifting echo of our own stories.

Unlike the first film that was inspired by the stage play C.S. Lewis On Stage: The Most Reluctant Convert, our second film will be a completely original screenplay that focuses on the middle period of his life. This period is among the most productive of Lewis’ life. It includes his rise to fame as well as an inside-The-Kilns look at the strange relationship between Lewis and his war buddy’s mother, Mrs. Janie Moore. It will focus on the personal and professional challenges that he faced. 

FPA’s film division has been an example of God’s grace from the very beginning. He clearly orchestrated it, and you, vitally, have made it possible with your financial support, encouragement and prayers.