海角大神

Todd Burpo鈥檚 bestselling book 鈥淗eaven Is for Real,鈥� which tells the story of how his son said he traveled to heaven while seriously ill, has been adapted as a movie.

The film adaptation of 鈥淗eaven鈥� stars Greg Kinnear as Burpo, 鈥淔light鈥� actress Kelly Reilly as his wife Sonja, and actor Connor Corum, who is making his film debut, as the Burpos鈥� son Colton.

Actors Margo Martindale and Thomas Haden Church also co-star.

Burpo鈥檚 book, which was written with Lynn Vincent and first released in 2010, details how Colton was diagnosed with a burst appendix when he was four years old. Afterwards, says Burpo, who is a pastor, Colton told his parents how he had traveled to Heaven and seen Jesus, John the Baptist, and an older sister whom his mother had lost in a miscarriage and about whom his parents say he had no prior knowledge. Colton also described his great-grandfather and pointed him out in a photograph, says Burpo.聽

In 2011, Burpo and his family filmed interviews that addressed critics of the book. The interviews were screened at Lifetree Caf茅 locations, spots where religious and other issues are discussed around the country.聽

鈥淎s a pastor and as a dad, I want my son to know I tell the truth,鈥� Burpo said during the interview. 鈥淗e can read the book. He knows if I exaggerated or if I didn't. My son is forever going to believe that I'm an honest person or I'm a liar by what I wrote in that book, because he can read."

鈥淪ecretariat鈥� director Randall Wallace is helming the film adaptation of Burpo's book and told that he felt 鈥淗eaven鈥� is different from other religiously themed films.

聽鈥淚鈥檝e been around churches all my life and I鈥檝e been exposed to a lot of material that would be categorized as inspirational,鈥� he said. 鈥淢ost of the stuff is anything but inspirational for me. But I found this story to have an incredible intrigue and emotional power. It speaks to the cynic in most of us."

The film version of 鈥淗eaven鈥� arrived in theaters on April 16.