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The Other Side Of Heaven

2002, Movie, PG-13, 113 mins

The Other Side Of Heaven: Review

OTHER SIDE OF HEAVEN, THE
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Promoted as the latest film from the Academy Award-winning producer of SCHINDLER'S LIST and JURASSIC PARK (Gerald R. Molen was once Head of Production for Steven Spielberg's Amblin Entertainment), this slick adaptation of John H. Groberg's missionary memoir In the Eye of the Storm is also the latest feature released by Excel Entertainment Group, the thriving media outlet for all things Mormon. In 1953, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints sent Groberg, then a 20-year-old Brigham Young University student, to a tiny South Pacific island to serve his three year mission building chapels, preaching the gospel and baptizing as many natives as possible. Writer, director and fellow BYU alum Mitch Davis introduces Groberg (Christopher Gorham) as he pledges his love to girlfriend Jean (Anne Hathaway), then bids her and his Idaho farm family goodbye: John's received word that he's to serve as a Mormon missionary to the people of the Kingdom of Tongo. After a tortuous 48 day journey, Groberg and his native missionary companion, Feki (Joe Falou), finally arrive at the far flung Tongan island of Niuatoputapu where Groberg immediately sets about fulfilling his two chief duties: learning the Tongan language and building a "kingdom." Letters to Jean offer insight into John's state of mind as he experiences a series of small miracles: Groberg learns the language in four days by reading the entire Bible in Polynesian, resuscitates a seriously injured boy who at first appears dead, and steers a number of wayward souls onto the true path. Groberg also endures a fair share of mishaps: Rats nibble at the soles of his feet while he's sleeping; Groberg and two members of his mission council barely survive a terrifying storm at sea; the entire island nearly dies of starvation after a sudden typhoon destroys the food supply. Not surprisingly, Groberg survives each disaster with his faith intact and stronger than ever. Lavishly shot on location in spectacularly picturesque Cook Islands, Davis's film is old-fashioned in the worst sense of the term. It's been a long time since the role of missionaries has been so unproblematically depicted, and the realities of an indigenous culture so blithely ignored; these natives have more in common with the extras of SOUTH PACIFIC than any actual South Pacific islanders. The film looks great and makes sophisticated use of digital effects, but unlike Excel's previous release, the moody and effective serial killer thriller BRIGHAM CITY, its appeal will probably limited to LDS Church members and undemanding armchair tourists. leave a comment --Ken Fox
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