Let There Be Light 2017

Dr. Sol Harkens is an outspoken atheist who engages in a heated debate with a Christian leader. After the argument, Sol attends a book party and, fueled by alcohol, tries to coax his girlfriend to join him for the night; she refuses. The setback leaves him feeling disappointed, and he stumbles home in a drunken haze. On the way, his publicist — Norm — phones in with plans to line up more lavish parties to boost his profile. Still intoxicated, Sol loses focus and veers off the road, crashing into a construction site.

He is suddenly enveloped by a carnival-like tunnel of light and hallucinates his young son, David, who died of cancer years earlier. The boy cheerfully insists that Sol is not broken and urges him to let God’s love fill him, crying out the phrase, > Let there be light! As Sol returns to consciousness, he learns he was clinically dead for four minutes. He awakens beside his Christian ex-wife, Katy Harkens, who confirms Sol’s vision of their son. A medical professional attributes the visions to adrenal brain surges caused by trauma, rather than miracles.

The crisis of science versus faith continues to haunt Sol. After Katy visits him at home, he seeks guidance from the church and speaks with Pastor Vinny, a former mob member. Hearing a resurrection story there sparks an awakening, and Sol is rebaptized as a believing Christian. With Katy’s ongoing support, he becomes determined to rebuild their family, planning to share life again with their two surviving sons, Gus Harkens and Connor Harkens. He proposes, and Katy accepts, but tragedy strikes when she discovers she has cancer that is no longer treatable.

News figure Sean Hannity hears about Sol’s tale and invites him onto his program, recognizing the story’s enduring resonance. Sol launches a global peace initiative called the “Let There Be Light” campaign, envisioning a world where people everywhere shine lights toward the night sky to symbolize unity. The campaign culminates in a moment visible from space as the lights unfold across the planet. Back at home, the newly reunited Harkens family enjoys a Christmas-time moment, singing together outside, only to be shattered when Katy dies in Sol’s arms.