If ever there were a religious film that could make me a believer, it is "Taliesin Jones." To call it a religious film is, in a way, misleading because the piece is not ham-handed, not un-human, and does not seem to be intent on making you a believer. Rather, the film's subtle and beautiful storytelling reminds the viewer of his youth, a time when belief came easily. What is it about growing old on planet Earth that makes us lose our faith? Is it that we become jaded? Is it that we are hurt so many times, let down so many times by life, that we lose our innocence. "Taliesin Jones" reminds us that it is the faith of children, the hopefulness of youth, which makes it easy to believe, to have faith.

Taliesin is a 12-year-old boy in Wales who finds his life in flux. Like young "Billy Elliot," Taliesin has lost his mother and lives in a rather drab household with his troubled father (Jonathan Pryce) and his older brother. In his awakening to pubescence, Taliesin is discovering girls, being bullied by boys who call him "worm," because he likes books, and trying to get by without a mom. He takes piano lessons from an aging man whom he soon discovers is also a "healer." Patients come to him to be healed. Not aided by new age remedies or herbal medicines, but by simple prayer and belief. Taliesin is amazed and when he takes part in a healing something magical happens. A woman's bad back straightens right before his eyes.

Lest one think that this is some sort of American religious type televangical stuff, let me explain. There is no preaching here. There is no phony evangelical rhetoric. There is no overtly religious calling of God. These are simple country folk who simply believe and, therefore, sometimes have their prayers answered.

Also, like "Billy Elliot," Taliesin finds conflict in his belief, his new "hobby." In addition to having his principal at school question his beliefs, his parents, his brother and several of his classmates all insist on trying to force him to adhere to their beliefs. Well, it isn't as ham-handed as that. Many of them simply don't believe and tell him so. Most, like his father and principal, deal with him honestly. But some, like his classmates and brother, cause tension and friction because of his belief. Taliesin doesn't have to fight them or confront them even. This is more about how he continues to believe even when others confront him about it. And even when incidents in his own life cause him to question his faith. In many ways, Taliesin is all of us, every man, and through his story we see almost exactly how and when we lost our own faith.

Taliesin is played marvelously by John Paul MacLeod, a young actor of incredible talent. Sure, his cherubic looks and rosy cheeks are part of his charm and do much of the work for him. But it is by sheer talent that he whips this character, who could be ham-handed and typical, into a fully rounded and interesting young man that we come to care deeply about. Aided by a cast of supporting actors who never let him down, a script by Maureen Tilyou which always takes a subtle approach, and direction by Martin Duffy,which continually moves the story forward, young MacLeod takes "The Testimony of Taliesen Jones" to a level of beauty and heartfelt joy one cannot imagine. Through sheer talent, MacLeod almost makes us believe in God again.

Shown at Worldfest 2001

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