5000 Blankets is an inspirational and heart-warming film based on a true story which strongly tackles mental health issues.

The film follows Cyndi and her young son Phillip, as they navigate life after Bobby (her husband and Phillip’s father) has run away. Bobby suffers from mental health issues but is very much loved by Cyndi and Phillip and they set out to find him.

Whilst looking for him, they come across homeless areas of the city and realise these people need blankets, will they be able to get enough blankets for the homeless and also find Bobby before the bleak winter storm rolls in?

Based upon an incredible true story, this film does not shy away from telling it how it is, it feels very real to life.

That is a testament to a well-written well-written script, wonderfully directed, amazing cinematography and fantastic acting from Anna Camp, Rob Mayes and Carson Minniear.

5000 Blankets strongly tackles mental health issues, it is emotionally and respectfully portrayed and it is good to see a film do this. We shouldn’t shy away from these issues, they are real and people need real support.

These issues also challenge the lives of their husbands, wives, and children and again this film shows the real side of Cyndi, struggling with life, struggling with faith and wondering what God’s plan is in all of that is going on.

This film takes us on that journey, the journey that Cyndi and her son go through, through the pain, the doubts, the emotion and through to restoration and a beautiful miracle.

We see through this film that God uses our brokenness, uses our struggles and can use our health issues (physical or mental) to help reach out to a broken world, to share His love, and show us that He is still there, carrying us through, He brings beauty out of brokenness.

Inspirationally this movie prompts us to give to the needy, to give to those that are without. This may be giving blankets to the homeless or helping with a soup-run, it may be giving food to food banks or supporting those with mental health issues or some other way that God prompts us to help others. No one will come away from this film without thinking about the needs of others.

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