Filmmaker Ben Smallbone shares story of reconciliation with brother Joel

Filmmaker Ben Smallbone has opened up about a significant personal and professional rift with his brother, Joel Smallbone of the duo for KING + COUNTRY. Ben describes a period where their relationship became so strained that both brothers vowed never to work together again. Despite their history of collaborating on projects like the film "Priceless," Ben notes that the pressures of their shared careers led to a breaking point approximately three years ago.

Ben explains that this experience of conflict deeply influenced the development of his new Christmas musical, "Drummer Boy," which depicts brothers on opposing sides of the American Revolutionary War. He credits the process of reconciliation for transforming the film's narrative, noting that the current version is significantly different from its 2018 iteration. Ben recounts that the healing began about a year ago when Joel visited him in Utah, where they met in a coffee shop to reconcile. He describes this moment of forgiveness as a testament to how family wounds can be mended, even when they seem irreparable.