There are few people in history that have lived up to their remarkable names; off the top of my head, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. is the perfect example. A true king of the people, he lead a civil rights movement that changed history forever. Christina Noble (Deirdre O’Kane) has a similar story and legacy. As a child, she was abused, raped, and left for dead. After a lifetime of fighting for her life and a state of well-being, she becomes obsessed with the war in Vietnam and dedicates her life towards focusing on the betterment of the lives of the people there. Noble tells Christina’s remarkable journey, which also happens to be an incredible true story.
Christina’s story begins in Ireland, 1955. As a young girl, she has the voice of an angel, singing for the community and anyone who will listen. Her Irish accent is fragile but beautiful. After the unexpected death of her mother, her drunken father is forced to care for her and her three siblings. Deeming them too much responsibility, he neglects the children, who are then court-ordered to alternative housing. Christina is given up to an orphanage run by nuns, and she passes the time singing, praying to God, and dreaming of the day she leaves her current surroundings.
She faces hardships while in Vietnam, but ultimately overcomes this struggle proving that nothing in life is easy or deserved, we must create our own path for the future.
However, she learns the hard way that the grass isn’t greener outside of the orphanage. A sexual assault at 17-years-old leaves her pregnant, and ultimately powerless when her child is taken from her and adopted out without her knowledge. A workplace romance leads to spousal abuse and further misery. Her deadbeat father re-appears just to steal her money and disappoint her once again. It isn’t until a news segment on television about the Vietnam war gives Christina a purpose in her life. She immediately heads to the poverty-stricken country to help in any way she can.
It is in Vietnam where Christina finds her calling, and this inspiring moment will stay with you for the duration of the film. She visits an orphanage full of children affected by Agent Orange, which is truly horrifying. These children are left to die and Christina uses her experience as an abused child to help other young children living in poverty. She faces hardships while in Vietnam, but ultimately overcomes this struggle proving that nothing in life is easy or deserved, we must create our own path for the future. Your destiny is up to you.
As far as biopics go, Noble is one of the better films I’ve seen. For a relatively unknown name, director Stephen Bradley humanizes Christina in a way that leaves everybody in the theater feeling connected to her. The way in which the film weaves through flashback narrative to linear story is artfully executed and quickly paced, focusing on only the important elements crucial in telling the story. This is not a fluff film, in fact, it is in the same vein as Steven Soderbergh’s Erin Brockovich, where love and loss are constant themes, but the overall feeling of triumph and independence prevail.
The film ends with a picture of the real Christina, who is credited as providing protection, education, and healthcare to more than 700,000 children and families. To say that Noble is an inspiring film is an understatement. Extraordinary performances from the cast, especially Deirdre O’Kane, are both heartfelt and piercing. The takeaway from this film is powerful, as we can all learn a lesson from Christina Noble; true happiness comes from helping others.
Noble opens in theaters this Friday.
