Jul 21, 2026
Spiritually Speaking in the Movies: Young Washington, 2026, 2h5m, PG-13. William Franklyn-Miller, Ben Kingsley, Andy Serkis, Kelsey Grammar. Should you see it? Absolutely. It’s an expert production featuring the remarkable rise of a provincial citizen of the British Empire — overlooked and under-appreciated — into something of a near-mythic figure to British, Colonials and native Americans alike. The how and why are deftly explained in the believable story, presented by Angel Studios, who are mostly know for their acclaimed series “The Chosen,” shown on various streaming platforms.
First off, Angel Studios comes of age with “Young Washington.” This feature film is expertly shot, written, acted and directed. It is also very well edited. I saw Young Washington with another who quipped at movie’s end, “Well, that was the fastest two hours I’ve seen in movies for a long time.”
While “Young Washington” may not win many or any Academy Awards, there are a myriad of movies made in the past ten years not as well done. Also, the days of also-ran, so-called “faith films” tinged with amateurish efforts are quite over. Now, the playing field, that also saw “Whitefield” shown earlier this year, can be earnestly declared “level.”
There are watermarks in history, and in the world of film-making, this is one of them. A significant one. The timing of “Washington’s” release, during the July 4 weekend of America’s 250th year of existence was no accident. There is a resurgence in reclaiming the positive, even divine side, of the American heritage. Here is a solid note in that resurrection.
As a nation we have developed a taste for cynicism say, roughly, since 1970. Even as some American Presidents declared America as still being “A city set on a hill,” others have made it a point to advance the idea that we are not a very exceptional as a nation at all.
But embedded in “Young Washington” is an historical idea that something special was brewing well before the celebration of America’s first birthday, in 1776. It was embodied in a person named George Washington, this movie claims, which then sets forth its case to prove the point in a most convincing manner.
The story opens with a very young George Washington, age 11, who is mourning the loss of this father. Believing “providence” to be cruel, he is remanded to the custody of his half-brother and to the estate that is less than idyllic.
Having to quit school to work as a tenant farmer, helping to provide for his widowed mother, he none-the-less seeks to rise above the is station to “gentleman.” But he is refused entry into a school. As a teenager, he is rebuffed by his “betters,” both provincial and British, who advise him to go home and forget about advancement of any kind.
Even his half-brother, Lawrence, tells young George, “You can’t change anything,” to which George reply, I wish you would believe in me.” Believers will recognize immediately that when few, or no one, believes in them, God does and will.
But it appears that, at the time, the only person who believed in George, was George. His belief that God had dealt him from a bad deck, seems to have permeated much of his pursuits. The story does not say as much in words, but in the lack of them. There are no prayers and little recognition of God’s hand in young Washington’s life, as he goes from one disaster to another, some quite deadly. But at the end, it all comes to light.
And in the meantime, Young Washington, now a surveyor of the wild Ohio territory, never waxes eloquent about God, even in love letters to a young aristocratic woman he fancies (not Martha, whom he later marries).
If the film makers wanted us to wonder how in the world this young man, constantly refused admission to high society and ignoring God for guidance, actually made it to General of the Continental Army, and then President of the world’s newest nation, they accomplished their goal.
To explain what happens next is to be a spoiler of a quite amazing final battle scene, and I won’t do that. What we do know about Washington is that he survived and prevailed.The film tells us he - and significantly others including native Americans out to kill Washington in battle - also had their eyes opened to “Providence.”
This is a welcome, spiritually deeper look, at George Washington. As a New York City school child, my history lessons were all about the Revolutionary War. We literally lived with former war sites all around us. The further west I moved, eventually to California, the less people seemed to appreciate him and the War for Independence.
Seeing “Young Washington,” a new appreciation for a 21st century audience is waiting in the wings for one of America’s most iconic figures.
Let’s pray they find it.