Saagar Kote
Based on the eponymous book by Christy Beam, ‘Miracles From Heaven’ is a religious drama that follows the life of Annabel “Anna” Beam, a ten-year-old girl who is diagnosed with a rare incurable medical condition called Intestinal Motility Disorder, which causes the intestines to malfunction and makes it impossible to eat food normally. The Patricia Riggen directorial blends medical issues with questions on religion and spirituality. As Anna painfully navigates her way through the disease, her mother, Christy, experiences a crisis in her faith, hoping for her daughter’s miraculous recovery. Due to the narrative being based on a true story, the setting, the landscape, and the culture portrayed in the film become very important in establishing authenticity in storytelling.
Miracles From Heaven Filming Locations
Though ‘Miracles From Heaven’ is set in Burleson, Texas, filming primarily took place in the state of Georgia, especially in Atlanta, Senoia, Covington, Decatur, and Dunwoody. Certain sections of the film were also taped in the state of Massachusetts, particularly in the city of Boston. According to reports, principal photography commenced in July 2015 and wrapped sometime around the end of the same year. The producer of the film, DeVon Franklin, chose Georgia because of the tax incentive it provides to cinema productions.
Atlanta, Georgia
Several locations in and around the city of Atlanta were utilized to bring the inspirational story of the Beam family to the big screen. The scene featuring Anna and Christy being taken on a tour of an aquarium by Angela was filmed in the Georgia Aquarium, located at 225 Baker Street. With over 11 million US gallons of water, the location houses thousands of animals from hundreds of species across seven major galleries.
Certain sections of the narrative featuring sequences of heaven were put to film at the beautiful Atlanta Botanical Garden, situated at 1345 Piedmont Avenue. The 30-acre garden serves multiple purposes: display, education, conservation, research, and enjoyment. These objectives are achieved through the development and maintenance of its diverse plant collections.
Additionally, Gibbs Gardens was transformed into the image of heaven that Anna sees while she’s stuck inside the tree, which is one of the most crucial scenes in the film. Located at 1987 Gibbs Drive, Ball Ground, it is a 376-acre privately owned botanical garden rich with biodiversity.
In an interview for Wildsound, the cinematographer of the film, Checco Varese, opined that it’s a really touching spiritual film that goes beyond what you might expect from a typical faith-based movie. He also went on to say that filming in Atlanta was an absolutely fantastic experience. When making movies based on true stories, the cinematographer said it’s tricky to find the right balance. You want to make it fun to watch, but you also have to keep it real.
AmericasMart doubled as the outside of Boston Children’s Hospital, which features some consequential portions of the film, especially when Anna is taken for her final diagnosis. The center stands as one of the world’s largest permanent wholesale trade centers, encompassing three buildings, collectively spanning seven million square feet. Some of the scenes depicting Anna’s struggles within the hospital were taped at the Atlanta Technical College, located at 1560 Metropolitan Parkway. These scenes establish the emotional turmoil of the mother and daughter. The scene where Angela struggles to open the doors of her old car was filmed in the Downtown area, which is the main commercial hub of the city.
Dunwoody, Georgia
The scenes set in Anna’s school play an important role in showcasing her journey. The gymnasium scene where a schoolmate comforts Anna and a scene involving the Beam family’s first visit to the doctor’s office were filmed at Dunwoody Elementary School, which is located at 1923 Womack Road.
Covington, Georgia
Located at 894 Benton Dairy Road, a beautiful country house in Covington served as the location for the Beam family’s house. The sections of the film that involve complex moments between the five family members were taped in this vast space. The property easily accommodated several hundred cast and crew members, along with large equipment, trucks, and food service trucks, during the production process. Additionally, a helicopter scene featuring multiple firetrucks was filmed in the front pasture of the house, as there were no filming restrictions.
Senoia, Georgia
Certain key exterior scenes in the film were lensed at Downtown Senoia Film Brick, a location known for being featured in popular shows like ‘The Walking Dead.’ The town’s brick buildings and sidewalks are a prominent feature of its cinematic appeal, which was utilized effectively in the portions of the film produced here. In an interview for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, director Patricia Riggen jokingly said that she was looking forward to a female cast, female characters, and hospitals and buildings with air conditioning while the production was taking place.
In an interview for Outersparkle, the filmmaker opined that getting a story on screen usually means keeping it to about two hours. But the real sickness was way more complex and lasted a lot longer, with tons of stages. Christy Beam, the mom, went on a huge journey, seeing doctor after doctor to figure out what was wrong. Even after a bunch of misdiagnoses, she just knew something wasn’t right and kept pushing until she finally found Dr. Nurko.
Decatur, Georgia
The scenes involving sermons from the pastor and Christy’s inspirational speech on God at the very end of the film are important scenes in the context of the film. North Decatur Presbyterian Church, located at 611 Medlock Road, doubled as the church visited by the Beam family throughout the film. Since its establishment in 1955, the church has been a leader in social action, outreach, and community service.
Boston, Massachusetts
Outdoor shots involving the outside of the Boston Children’s Hospital in the film are important in the context of the narrative. Located at 300 Longwood Avenue, the institution serves as the primary pediatric training and research hospital for Harvard Medical School and Harvard University. The hospital’s exteriors were utilized effectively to narrate Annabel’s journey from her idyllic home to a large and strange city.
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