Many Beautiful Things (2015)

Many Beautiful Things: Directed by Laura Waters Hinson. With Ashley Lane Adams, Michelle Dockery, Jerry Eisley, John Rhys-Davies. From Executive Producer Hisao Kurosawa, (Dreams, Ran), comes the untold story of one of the world’s greatest women artists and why her name was nearly lost to history. Many Beautiful Things plunges viewers into the complex age of Victorian England to meet Lilias Trotter, a daring young woman who defied all norms by winning the favor of England’s top art critic, John Ruskin. In an era when women were thought incapable of producing high art, Ruskin promised that her work could be “immortal.” But with her legacy on the line, Lilias made a stunning decision that bids us to question the limits of sacrifice. As Lilias journeys to French Algeria in the late 1800’s to pioneer work with women and children, viewers are left to wonder, “Could you abandon a dream to pursue your true calling?” Featuring the voices of Michelle Dockery (Downton Abbey) and John Rhys-Davies (Lord of the Rings, Indiana Jones).

“I stumbled upon this movie because of Sleeping At Last, whose music has been a favorite of mine for a while now. I listened through the soundtrack, knowing immediately I had to see the movie. I knew nothing of Lillias Trotter before watching. Let me tell you, from the first scene I was captivated by not only her story and her art, but by the storytelling of the documentary.nMasterfully done in every way. I was breathless at the final scene, tears in my eyes, and as soon as the credits rolled, I started the movie over and watched it again.nLillias is a new hero and role model and this movie truly captures her life and vision.”