United States Senator and Presidential Candidate John McCain's story about his five and half years in Vietnamese prison camp as a prisoner of war is told here. Most of the cast members are not well-known but they all play very well in this ensemble. The movie does it's best to show the brutality of war and the humanity that sometimes comes within. The actor who plays John McCain as the wounded soldier does a brilliant job in portraying him as a complex but likable fellow. The story offers a background regarding his complex relationship with John's father, a high ranking military man and the family's military history. We only see mother, Roberta, and hear her reaction that her son may not be coming home when his plane is shot at down. The same scene for his wife and the mother of his three children is also shown. We also see how he met his first wife, Carol. The five and half-years is well-documented as painful, violent, and inhumane at times but it built character in John to protect his squadron as well as remain behind rather than go home sooner than later. He couldn't bear to leave his men who became his friends behind. This movie is about politics but about a man's battle to survive with broken limbs but not a broken heart.

I expected more for an A&E production, and I found the budget lacking. After watching other A&E productions, I found the producers cut a few corners with the high standards of previous A&E movies sets. Faith of my fathers has an excellent message about character, and going the extra mile. I find with my studies, work and my sick wife the movie is inspirational. It shames me into not feeling sorry for myself. The story is lacking in spots. I have never read the book, but I bet it is a long one. When you compress a long book into a hour and a half the viewer only gets a glimpse of the event. I love the part with grandpa and when John talks to his father and the reply is that John left nothing behind. God bless him and his character. I have no idea what I would do in such a situation. I give it a 6 out of 10. The movie left me looking for more. I think I will read the book after finishing one of my majors.

I wasn't surprised but yet surprised by the treatment that Senator McCain received during his 5 yrs as POW. I thought the movie was rather moving in the fact on how the military can prepare ones own mentality to "hold on" to survival and to fight that of brainwashing tactics. I was surprised however to question why the Vietnamese just didn't shoot him and the rest of the POW's......why didn't he leave when given a chance? I believe that there should have been more movies out like this shortly after they ended "the conflict" to show the American people more in-depth of the treatment of our herons. With this said, it would of, I believe, been more opened, understanding and welcoming arms reached out to our herons coming home. I thank everyone of them every day in prayer :-)

This story is a great tribute to those who withstood the horror of being a prisoner of war not only during the Vietnam War, but any conflict. I knew of Senator McCain's story at the time for I was 21 years old when he was released, but did not know the whole story until now. The young man who portrays McCain, Shawn Hatosy, is riveting, he catches every emotion the senator must have gone through during those five years. You can see the touching relationship he had with his career-navy father was the strength he drew from in the years he was imprisoned. It makes you think....how can another human be so utterly unfeeling to another human to think nothing of inflicting such torture and pain. I know the recent photos of our own military inflicting horrible torture upon others makes me see that any human can be inhuman, that it doesn't matter who you are or what country you were brought up in. But that is no excuse and you can see that in this story of how one man stood high and above his captors and never lost his respect for himself or the other prisoners there with him. God bless John McCain.