CONTRARIAN

You should watch this documentary if you want to understand how business skill and Christian virtues shaped Sir John Templeton’s success. The film presents his journey from Winchester, Tennessee, through Yale during the Great Depression, into international investing, philanthropy, and the Templeton Prize.

Its strongest qualities are its grace, clarity, and respect for Sir John, his family, and the audience. It celebrates thrift and honesty without reducing success to financial cleverness. The only concern the source identifies is gambling, including poker playing, which parents may want to discuss with their children.

For older children and adults, this is a thoughtful and worthwhile documentary. The practical answer: watch it together and use its brief gambling references as an opening for conversation.

Narrated by Fred Dalton Thompson, this documentary tells the story of Sir John Templeton in three chapters. It begins with his upbringing in Winchester, Tennessee, and his determination to attend Yale during the Great Depression.

The film then follows his unusual approach to investing, including his interest in penny stocks and overseas opportunities. Finally, it explores his interest in science and religion and the creation of the Templeton Prize.

Four stars means this is an exceptionally strong documentary. It is fascinating, clearly organized, and well edited. Its three-chapter structure gives the story a compelling shape, moving from Sir John’s early life to his investing career and then to his work connecting science and religion.

The film is also notably respectful of Sir John, his family, and its audience. That delicate sense of grace helps the documentary present its subject’s achievements without losing sight of the virtues behind them.

The documentary presents a strong moral and free-market worldview, with positive Christian statements and discussion of God and Christian virtues. It argues that Sir John Templeton’s success rested not only on his business acumen but also on thrift, honesty, humility, and keeping his word.

The film also presents science and religion as complementary avenues for exploring great questions, such as why we are here and whether God exists. It explains Sir John’s belief that religion had been left out of the Nobel Prizes and his desire to create a larger prize devoted to these questions. The source notes that some interviewees did not understand the freedom and liberation that comes from knowing Jesus Christ, along with references to some religious attitudes.

At its best, the documentary honors the connection between faithful character and responsible work. Scripture likewise commends integrity: “The integrity of the upright guides them” (Proverbs 11:3).

With strong editing, a respectful tone, and a compelling portrait of faith-informed character, Contrarian gives older children and adults much to discuss. Parents may want to address the gambling references, but the documentary’s central lessons about honesty, thrift, and virtue make it WORTH WATCHING.