This was a very emotional scene. This is yet another thing Colton couldn't have possibly known without going to Heaven.
There is a key comparison to the book in this scene. In both mediums, the conversation takes place in the living room. But, the way Colton introduces the topic is different in the slightest way. In the book, Colton says, "Mommy, I have two sisters" instead of "Did you know I have a sister." The words in the book are more concise and seem a bit more likely for a four-year-old to have said.
Many other cases of incorrect interpretation by the movie occur besides the "Two Sisters" chapter. For example, towards the end of the movie, Todd Burpo is in the cemetery remembering a lost soldier when his mother comes. The mother comes and gets upset that God saved Todd's son but not hers. So, Todd asks her a question very similar to a question asked at a different point in the book. In the book, a young mother approached Todd and asked if he would know if her stillborn child is in heaven (like his). His response was:
"Ma'am do you believe God loves me?" I said.
She blinked away her tears. "Well... yes."
"Do you believe he loves you as much as he loves me?"
"Yes. Yes, I do."
Then I nodded at her young son beside here. "Do you believe God loves your son here as much as he loves Colton?"
She paused to process that question, then answered, "Yes, of course."
"Well if you believe God loves you as much as he loves me, and you as your living son as much as he loves my living son, don't you believe he loves your unborn child as much as he loves mine?"
This miscommunication takes away from the greatness of the movie.
There is a key comparison to the book in this scene. In both mediums, the conversation takes place in the living room. But, the way Colton introduces the topic is different in the slightest way. In the book, Colton says, "Mommy, I have two sisters" instead of "Did you know I have a sister." The words in the book are more concise and seem a bit more likely for a four-year-old to have said.
Many other cases of incorrect interpretation by the movie occur besides the "Two Sisters" chapter. For example, towards the end of the movie, Todd Burpo is in the cemetery remembering a lost soldier when his mother comes. The mother comes and gets upset that God saved Todd's son but not hers. So, Todd asks her a question very similar to a question asked at a different point in the book. In the book, a young mother approached Todd and asked if he would know if her stillborn child is in heaven (like his). His response was:
"Ma'am do you believe God loves me?" I said.
She blinked away her tears. "Well... yes."
"Do you believe he loves you as much as he loves me?"
"Yes. Yes, I do."
Then I nodded at her young son beside here. "Do you believe God loves your son here as much as he loves Colton?"
She paused to process that question, then answered, "Yes, of course."
"Well if you believe God loves you as much as he loves me, and you as your living son as much as he loves my living son, don't you believe he loves your unborn child as much as he loves mine?"
This miscommunication takes away from the greatness of the movie.
On page 90 of the novel, Todd calls his mother to talk to her about Colton seeing her father in Heaven. This NEVER happens in the movie. In fact, the whole way of introducing Pop is all messed up between the two mediums. In the movie, Colton goes to a funeral with his father for a man who had no one left to attend, and later brings up Pop. When they get home, Todd shows Colton a picture of Pop before he died, but Colton sees no resemblance between him and the man he say in Heaven.
Then, Todd rushes to find another picture of a much younger Pop and asks Colton if he identifies his grandfather; Colton says, "There's Pop."
In the novel, everything is different. In the car on the way to Benkelman, Colton brings up Pop. This is quite different than a cemetery. The whole Pop revelation is kind of pushed to the side for a few chapters until chapter 22, No One Is Old In Heaven. After searching for a picture of Pop, Todd reveals a picture of him at an old age. Colton doesn't recognize him because hie is old and has glasses ("Nobody's old in Heaven.")
Soon after, Todd has his mother send a Xerox of a young picture of Pop. When it arrives in the mail, Todd calls for Colton. Nonchalantly, he asks Colton to take a look at it and tell him what he thinks of it. The reaction is remarkable: "Hey! How did you get a picture of Pop?" With no hints at all toward the picture containing Pop, Colton instantly recognized him. This is crucial to understanding how believable Colton's journey.
A NOTE: In the movie, when Todd is scrambling around for pictures of Pop, camera angles of Colton show him in silhouettes with bright lights behind him. This is most likely incorporated to symbolize Colton as a messenger between Heaven and Earth. In these shots, Colton looks pure and praised.
Then, Todd rushes to find another picture of a much younger Pop and asks Colton if he identifies his grandfather; Colton says, "There's Pop."
In the novel, everything is different. In the car on the way to Benkelman, Colton brings up Pop. This is quite different than a cemetery. The whole Pop revelation is kind of pushed to the side for a few chapters until chapter 22, No One Is Old In Heaven. After searching for a picture of Pop, Todd reveals a picture of him at an old age. Colton doesn't recognize him because hie is old and has glasses ("Nobody's old in Heaven.")
Soon after, Todd has his mother send a Xerox of a young picture of Pop. When it arrives in the mail, Todd calls for Colton. Nonchalantly, he asks Colton to take a look at it and tell him what he thinks of it. The reaction is remarkable: "Hey! How did you get a picture of Pop?" With no hints at all toward the picture containing Pop, Colton instantly recognized him. This is crucial to understanding how believable Colton's journey.
A NOTE: In the movie, when Todd is scrambling around for pictures of Pop, camera angles of Colton show him in silhouettes with bright lights behind him. This is most likely incorporated to symbolize Colton as a messenger between Heaven and Earth. In these shots, Colton looks pure and praised.