Lifemark movie storyline. David’s comfortable world is turned upside down when his birthmother unexpectedly reaches out to him, longing to meet the 18-year-old son she’s only held once. With the encouragement of his adoptive parents, David embarks on a journey of discovery that leads to a staggering truth from his past. From executive producers Kirk Cameron and the Kendrick Brothers–creators of War Room and Fireproof–comes LIFEMARK, based on an incredible true story that celebrates adoption, reconciliation, and love.
Lifemark is a 2022 American Christian drama film by director Kevin Peeples, adapting the true story of the adoption of David Scotton, previously depicted in the 2018 short documentary film I Lived on Parker Avenue. It tells the story of how a young man’s mother considered aborting him, but instead made an adoption plan for him, and later reconnected with him as a young adult.
Kirk Cameron, Alex Kendrick, and Raphael Ruggero star, while the Kendrick Brothers co-wrote the script with Peeples and act as executive producers. The film was released on September 9, 2022, via Fathom Events after traditional distributors declined to release it. It received generally positive reviews, and its initial one-week theatrical run was extended an extra week due to its box-office success.
Lifemark is the culmination of David Scotton’s story, which he began telling in a 2011 “Louisiana Pro-Life Oratory Contest at Jesuit High School in New Orleans.” The story was picked up by Louisiana Right to Life, who funded the documentary film I Lived on Parker Avenue for $67,000. After the film’s release, Scotton spent his time “visiting Catholic high schools across the country, appearing on national television, showing the film to members of Congress and telling just about all who would listen about the adoption alternative.”
While the Kendrick Brothers intended to tell a pro-life story, they started adapting the story in 2019; executive producer Stephen Kendrick attributed the post-Dobbs release of the project to providential timing. Both Stephen Kendrick and Cameron have adopted children, and Cameron’s wife was herself adopted, which both cite as a motivation for their involvement with this film. Cameron publicly promoted the film and explained his motivation in a speech at the 2022 March for Life. Bloomberg noted that Cameron “acknowledged adoption doesn’t always work as well as portrayed” in the film.
Lifemark (2022)
Directed by: Kevin Peeples
Starring: Kirk Cameron, Alex Kendrick, Marisa Lynae Hampton, Dawn Long, Rebecca Rogers, Raphael Ruggero, Isabelle Almoyan, Lowrey Brown, Ezra DuVall, Harlen Ernest, Sharonne Lanier
Screenplay by: Alex Kendrick, Stephen Kendrick, Kevin Peeples
Production Design by:
Cinematography by: Bob Scott
Film Editing by: Bill Ebel, Alex Kendrick, Kevin Peeples
Costume Design by: Terri Middleton
Makeup Department: Mary Smit
Music by: Kyle McCuiston
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for some thematic material.
Distributed by: Fathom Events
Release Date: September 9, 2022
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