Have a Little Faith

Mitch Albom is asked by his former rabbi, 82-year-old Albert Lewis, to deliver his eulogy when the time comes. Over the next eight years Albom returns to his New Jersey hometown, attending Sabbath services on occasion and spending long afternoons talking with the rabbi, even though he has long since stopped active practice and has married a non-practicing Christian. He feels unsure he is the right person for the task, and those visits bring up old memories, ethical questions, and family matters. Rabbi Lewis keeps serving his congregation with calm determination as his health declines, and their conversations quietly probe what faith, responsibility, and forgiveness mean in ordinary life, without dramatic sermonizing or easy answers, and influences his later choices personally.

The 2011 made-for-TV film was directed by Jon Avnet and adapted from Mitch Albom's memoir of the same name, produced for television audiences for TV. The cast includes Laurence Fishburne, Bradley Whitford, Martin Landau, Mykelti Williamson, and Anika Noni Rose.

As a television adaptation it did not have a traditional theatrical box office, reaching viewers through its original broadcast and later home release and streaming, and modest broadcast viewership. Its audience was measured by TV ratings rather than ticket sales.

While not a breakout cultural phenomenon, the film broadened awareness of Albom's memoir among TV viewers and highlighted quiet stories of faith and service. Viewers and community groups have cited the performances, especially those by Fishburne and Landau, when discussing interfaith respect, volunteer work, and care for elders.

Critical response was mixed to favorable, and user ratings average 6.4/10 based on available votes. Reviewers praised the acting and the humane tone, while some noted the adaptation's sentimental leanings. Major themes include loyalty, reconciliation, mortality, and how small acts of compassion sustain a community. Some viewers found it reassuring.