For The Ones That Follow

Description

For The Ones That Follow’ follows a small town British farmer, who is faced with the tough decision of selling his farm or not, after struggling with the hottest summer in British history, and looking after his dying mother. Set during the 1976 British summer heatwave, we follow Jonathan and his family as they struggle through the longest drought in British history. As crop farms, agriculture was severely affected, but that wasn’t the only issue facing Jonathan and his family, as they were also looking after Jonathan’s dying mother. Following another buyout refusal from a farming conglomerate, Jonathan and his wife Catherine are unsure how long they can survive running the farm, especially through the drought, and wonder if it’s pride or ego keeping them there. Jonathan turns to his mother for advice on the farm, subconsciously finding a deeper connections and unearthing her wisdom and life stories as her battle with cancer worsens and her inevitable death ensues. Following the funeral of his mother, Jonathan and Catherine strongly consider selling and cutting their losses, before being interrupted by the heaven opening and the sound of rain pouring outside, as the drought is finally over.

Biblical Connection

For The Ones That Follow’ was written and inspired for Lamentations 3, specifically 3:22-26: “22 Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. 23 They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. 24 I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him. 25 The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; 26 it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.” These verses underpin the small miracles of everyday life and how even in our darkest hour, there is light and hope that we can find in God’s compassion, as it is renewed daily. Throughout Lamentations 3 we understand the hardships, and trials and tribulations that face us, and the doubt that can be planted in our mind if we allow it. By using this as a basis, mixed with my own personal experiences, I created Jonathan’s character and his journey through hardship and being pushed to his limits and his struggle to stay true to his faith, in one of the hardest and most trying times in his life.