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</script></div>{/googleAds}Award winning producer, writer, director, and Texas native, Nathan Todd Sims introduces Echoes of Innocence, a tender little tale he calls "a sexy new teen movie - without the sex!" Although Echoes represents his coming out party from the world of commercial video production, the surprising thing is that it doesn't have the look and feel of a low-budget indie. It is very well put together, terrifically scored and despite a few shortcomings - namely with the script - the film's release will continue to bring recognition to Sims' filmmaking skills.

Sarah, played by Sarah Simmonds, is a high school senior enamored with the legend and image of Joan or Arc. By choice, Sarah patterns her own life after that of the "Virgin Maid" believing, as did Joan of Arc, that virginity gives her spiritual strength. Her religious convictions coupled with her insistence upon remaining a virgin until marriage, might normally garner one the brand of "kook" or "outcast." But Sarah's striking beauty and captivating innocence ensure her place in the pecking order of popularity amongst her high school classmates.

A rare and precious gem amongst the promiscuousness and delinquency that occupy the minds of most kids her age, Sarah shrugs off her nickname, "The Virg" with an ambivalent confidence and self-assured demeanor. She's the kind of kid you'd like your own child to hang out with, but Sarah has few friends save for Beth (Natali Jones) who even sometimes finds it a bit difficult to relate to Sarah. The only child of a single mother (Dana Jackson) who was declared unfit to care for her, Sarah lives with her grandmother (Scottie Wilkison) and often retreats to her "secret place", an abandoned, run-down shell of a church house where she prays over lit candles and unexplained spiritual visions.

We learn through a series of flashbacks the story behind Sarah's insistence on remaining a virgin. When much younger, Sarah made a pact with a childhood friend Christopher (Cody Linley), pledging that they would save their virginity for each other and marry on her eighteenth birthday. To seal the deal, Christopher presented Sarah a medallion engraved with the words "I promise", of which he kept a matching copy. For some unexplained reason, Christopher had to suddenly leave town with his family, but not before the two promised their pact would hold. I was not totally convinced of the frankness and maturity these two thirteen year-olds displayed in this otherwise tender scene. While certainly needed for the eventual plot convergence, their conversation more closely resembled that of older teenagers or even young adults. Do twelve or thirteen year-olds even understand the importance of virginity or the permanence of such a separation? I know we parents and adults preach the seriousness of abstinence, but do they really and truly listen? Call me skeptical, but I don't think so. This scene played out as a bit contrived and even made me a little uncomfortable.

Two students come to have a defining effect on Sarah during her senior year of high school. First is Dave (Jake McDorman of Fox TV's Quintuplets), a writer for the school newspaper who interviews Sarah when she lands a leading role in the school play. At first, Dave finds Sarah cold and unapproachable. But when she eventually lets her guard down, the two begin to have feelings for each other. Of course this adds a great deal of conflict to Sarah's dilemma as she becomes increasingly confused with her feelings towards Dave. She's promised herself to Christopher but can't understand why God tempts her with Dave's fruit. Sarah retreats to her secret place in search of the answer.

The second person to have a defining effect on Sarah, and representing the dark and villainous side of the story, is Alec (Matt Vodvarka). We all knew an Alec in high school. He was the disturbed kid with the long dark trench coat who harbored sadistic plans to go down in a blaze of glory by blowing up the school. Alec sets his sights on Sarah with the evil intention of snaring her virginity. Vodvarka's performance is a bit too brash and over the top, but that's probably more a result of the script than it is his performance. We understand Alec represents Satan, but for him to speak in a growling, beastly tongue is just too obvious.

As Sarah fends off repeated attacks upon her vows to Christopher, the film takes a dark and sinister turn towards supernatural thriller. Will Sarah remain true to her vow or give in to the devil's temptation? Like a trapped animal, Sarah becomes increasingly desperate, hoping her faith and instincts will lead her in the right direction.

Echoes of Innocence is a film about remaining true to what you believe in. And in today's world, it's quite refreshing to see a film with such honorable intentions. Admittedly, Sims did not set out to make a religious movie, but without question, its messages hold true to Christian faith. It will play nicely to Christian audiences, but should be well received by mainstream viewers as well. Echoes was made on an extremely meager budget, but the experience feels much bigger.


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