Amidst the summer heat, two filmmakers brought Christmas to life in Murfreesboro and the surrounding areas.
The recently released film A Law for Christmas is a cinematic celebration of love and Christianity during the holiday season, woven against the backdrop of Middle Tennessee.
Though the film is set in Washington, D.C. and a fictional rural town called Snowpoint, a significant amount of it was filmed in Murfreesboro. The most-used shooting locations include Oflow Cafe, The Abbey Public House and the Murfreesboro Municipal Airport.
A Law for Christmas follows Gloria Winters, a cold yet driven female politician, as she visits a quaint town in the mountains to gather material for a campaign. Upon meeting the generous and humble mayor of Snowpoint, Christian Baker, Winters’ presumptuous demeanor begins to fade as the two fall deeply in love. Through it all, she discovers the story of Christmas and finds an appreciation for it.
The movie is a classic Hallmark-like trope of a businesswoman leaving city life behind during Christmas time and meeting a man who makes her reevaluate her decisions and lifestyle. However, this film does have distinguishing qualities about it. The audience can relish bits of humor, and it is exciting to point out recognizable buildings from Nashville, Smyrna and Murfreesboro.
A Law for Christmas differs from other films in its genre because it integrates love in more respects than just romantic. Familial and platonic love—as well as religious devotion—are as important to the plot as the love story between the two protagonists.
Christian filmmakers Simon and Joshua Wesley stepped into the world of filming when they were just boys, creating movies at their grandparents’ house in Germany. During the pandemic, they directed and produced their first film, but they deem A Law for Christmas as their first major masterpiece.
The Wesley Brothers felt compelled to shoot the film in Middle Tennessee, they say, due to the welcoming and genuine social climate. In other words, they were charmed by the Southern hospitality.
“We are low-budget and we are faith-based,” Joshua Wesley said. “What impressed me the most is how giving the people are with how much money and time they were willing to donate for the cause, which is not something I saw a lot in Germany so it really amazed me.”
Wesley shared that another irresistible feature that drove the pair to Murfreesboro and surrounding areas is because “it is the center of the Bible belt.”
“We want to spread the Gospel, tell people about our faith and about Jesus Christ and how important He is to us, which is really the goal of our lives,” Joshua Wesley said. “That’s the point of the movie, too, to tell people what Christmas is really about.”
A Law for Christmas premiered at the Malco Smyrna Cinema on Nov. 15 and filled two theaters. The film is currently available for purchase on DVD and Blu-ray on wesleybros.com and will be released to streaming services on Dec. 1.
