Published: October 31, 2009 05:16 pm      

Jeffersonville featured in holiday movie

A young girl is caught in the middle as politically correct crusaders and the commercially connected seek to take Christ out of Christmas. As the events unfold, an entire community gets into the conversation, which centers on the true meaning of the holiday.

It’s the plot of a new film, parts of which were filmed in Jeffersonville, called, “The Perfect Gift.”

It opens in limited cities, including Louisville, next week.

The film, an allusion to the “War on Christmas,” examines debates that arise each December. It was produced by Louisville-based Kelly’s Filmworks.

Writer, director and co-star Jefferson Moore said the movie has a message, but “it’s not too heavy handed. It’s a feel-good movie on a lot of levels.”

At times, it even becomes parodic, when a church is asked to remove its nativity scene, he said.

Arguments aside, Hoosiers who see the film will notice several familiar sights, as a number of the exterior shots were taken along Jeffersonville’s Spring Street. Many of them were shot in December, when lights and decorations were shining.

Occasionally, he said, local shopkeepers can be seen in the background.

This is the second time Jeffersonville has been featured in a Kelly’s Filmworks movie. Earlier this year, several shots were taken for a film called “Clancy.”

Jeffersonville has a balance, Moore reasoned.

“The architecture in Jeffersonville is a lost art,” he said.

The city is used to portray a small town, but not a “podunk” town, he said, noting the visibility of the Louisville skyline in the background.

“We call it our Mayberry set,” he said.

The film stars Christina Fougnie as Maxine Noelle Westray, the spoiled young protagonist. Matt Wallace plays young disillusioned minister Tony Vincent. And New Albany resident Tom Luce plays the Rev. Black, a generally unlikable senior pastor who plays pushover to politically correct crusader Blaine Pollett, played by Mark Smeby.

The film is not rated. It opens Friday at Louisville’s Village 8 Theaters, 4014 Dutchmans Lane.

Show times are at 1 p.m., 3:30 p.m., 5:30 p.m., 7:45 p.m. and 9:45 p.m. that day. Tickets can be purchased at perfectgiftmovie.com or at the theater.