T
he nationwide release of Woodlawn,
set for October 16, will give witness
to what can happen when God's
grace overcomes racism and the
cultural divide.
Woodlawn, the latest production by the Ethan Broth-
ers, is the true story of Tony Nathan, a standout running
back/receiver at Woodlawn High School in Alabama. He
was recruited by legendary Coach Paul "Bear" Bryant at the
University of Alabama. Nathan later became a third-round
draft pick of the NFL Miami Dolphins--going on to win two
Super Bowl championships and three AFC Championship
appearances.
"The movie is based on the true story that happened in
1973, when Woodlawn High School continued to experi-
ence much tension because of integration that began in
the 1960s," explains the fi lm's associate producer, Joshua
Walsh. "I think 500 kids were shipped into the school, and
it was a tough time for Woodlawn. And this player emerged
out of it, Tony Nathan. He was on
the front page every day; he was
a big name for Alabama, and it
helped unify the city."
Nathan said, "It was during a
time when people weren't getting
along very well, but as a football
team we came together. They ac-
cepted me; I accepted them. Some
did, some didn't, but that's life
itself. Actually, it was very emo-
tional for me to see [the movie],
to go back and say, `Well, gosh,
that did happen. I actually went
through that.' It's kind of hard
to put into words, but it's very
emotional."
Nathan is played in the
movie by Caleb Castille.
Coincidentally, Castille was
a walk-on at Nathan's alma
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mater. Castille's father, Jeremiah,
also played at Alabama as a defen-
sive back.
Jon Voigt plays the role of
Bear Bryant, while Nic Bishop plays
the role of Nathan's high school
coach, Tandy Gerelds.
The movie includes a recreation of
the 1974 Alabama State Champion-
ship game (which remains the most
attended high school game in state
history), just one event that was part
of a memorable year for Nathan.
In May 2015, Nathan fulfi lled a
promise he made to Bryant at the
end of his college football career--
earning his degree more than 36
years after leaving the University
of Alabama.
God's
Grace
Film
PREVIEW
TRUMPS
Racism