“Ordinary Angels” is #1 on Netflix. The film shows the emotional story of a girl who needs a new organ. That’s what lies behind it.
Ordinary Angels – Currently number 1 in the top 10 (Source: Photo: Lionsgate)
The film “Ordinary Angels” is currently conquering the hearts of viewers and is number 1 on the Netflix charts. The film is based on one true incident from 1994, when Sharon became aware of the fate of the Schmitt family.
In 1992, Theresa Schmitt, Ed Schmitt’s wife, died of complications from a rare autoimmune disease called Wegener’s granulomatosis. This left Ed alone with two young daughters, Ashley and Michelle, both of whom suffered from a congenital liver disease called biliary atresia. While Ashley had already had a liver transplant, her younger daughter Michelle was now facing the same life-saving operation.
Was the 1994 Louisville blizzard really as bad as portrayed in the movie?
The film powerfully shows how the Louisville community came together to save Michelle’s life. But how exactly did the events in the film correspond to reality? Here are some of the key questions and answers that shed light on the real events behind the story:
Yes, the snowstorm of January 16, 1994 was actually so intense. Nearly 40 centimeters of snow fell in Louisville in just eight hours, setting a new record for the heaviest snowfall in a day. The storm surprised residents because only a few centimeters of snow had originally been forecast.
The previous rain had caused a layer of ice to form beneath the snow, making the roads even more dangerous. Then-Kentucky Governor Brereton Jones closed highways to allow snow removal, while countless vehicles were abandoned along the roads.
Was the Children’s Hospital in Omaha really 700 miles away?
In the film it is mentioned that Michelle has to fly 700 miles to get to the children’s hospital. In fact, the distance between Louisville and Omaha by car is about 693 miles, about an 11-hour drive. By plane it is almost 580 miles, which corresponds to a flight time of around 1 hour and 40 minutes.
Did a helicopter really land in the parking lot of a local church to take Michelle to the airport? Ordinary Angels: Hilary Swank (Quelle: Lionsgate/Sony Pictures/Allen Fraser)
Yes. A woman named Teresa Amshoff heard Sharon’s call for help on the radio and saw from her kitchen window the large, open parking lot of Southeast Christian Church, ideal for a helicopter landing. She called in to the radio station and suggested the spot, prompting about 200 Louisville residents to come together to clear snow from the parking lot within 30 minutes. This meant the helicopter was able to get Michelle to the airport on time.
Is the donor of Michelle Schmitt’s liver known?
Michelle received the liver of Brian Friesen, a seven-year-old boy from Kansas who had died suddenly of a brain aneurysm the day before Michelle’s surgery. After the successful transplant, the Schmitt and Friesen a close friendship.
Did the Schmitt family approve the film Ordinary Angels?
Yes, the Schmitt family is fully behind the film. Michelle’s sister Ashley told WDRB that director Jon Gunn did a great job and the film portrays the events and people well. She added that the film’s title was perfect because there were many “ordinary angels” that day who helped Michelle receive the life-saving transplant.
What happened to Michelle Schmitt after the events in Ordinary Angels?
Michelle, known as the “Snow Baby of Louisville”, attended college in her hometown. Both she and her sister Ashley required lifelong medical care as daily medication was damaging their kidneys. Both received another kidney transplant in 2011. Michelle married David Cobble in 2015 and worked as a medical receptionist at Louisville Children’s Hospital.
How did Michelle Schmitt die?
Michelle Schmitt died of a stomach aneurysm in May 2021 at the age of 31. She knew that a film was being made about her life at that time. Her sister Ashley believes Michelle would have been proud of the film and that it inspires other people to support organ donation.
Ordinary Angels: Lead actress Hillary Swank Ordinary Angels: The film Ordinary Angels is currently number 1 on Netflix. (Source: Lionsgate/Sony Pictures/Allen Fraser)
Hilary Swank said in an interview that portraying characters based on real people made her a “better person.” The two-time Oscar winner, who has played a single mother, a lawyer and a high school dropout, told Sky News: “Every character I’ve played I carry in my heart. I’m grateful for that because it challenged me not only as a person but also as an artist.”
Her latest film, “Ordinary Angels,” which is based on a true story, has special meaning for her as her father himself received an organ transplant before his death in 2021. Swank took a three-year break between 2014 and 2017 to focus on caring for her father.
She describes this time as “deepening our relationship” in which they enjoyed every moment together. Just months after his death in 2021, she was offered the role in Ordinary Angels, making the film particularly emotional for her.
Alan Ritchson, known to audiences from “Reacher”, plays the role of Ed Schmitt, the father of little Michelle.
If you don’t have a Netflix subscription, you can currently purchase the film “Oridnary Angels” on Amazon Video.
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