 Overall, the film deals with powerful themes of redemption, hatred, compassion, independence, the economic problems of small towns, the plight of Vietnam War veterans, and, to some extent female empowerment.The film somewhat misleads the audience into thinking that it will be Percy who finds redemption, but it is other characters and relationships, and indeed the town itself, that are powerfully redeemed through Percy's actions.The idea for the film was conceived by Malcolm Roger Courts, long-time Director and CEO of Sacred Heart League, Inc., a Roman Catholic nonprofit fundraising and communications organization based in Walls, Mississippi.