The Other Side of Heaven

I'm sorry that the adolescent ravings of the previous reviewer appear first. His profound failure to "get it" is an embarrassment.

First of all, this is about a young man of "white-bread" heritage casting aside all he has and all he is, even leaving the love of his life for two and a half years, in order to immerse himself in a culture about which he is totally ignorant so that he can offer them the greatest gift he has to offer: His faith.

Rather than "looking down" on the people he has come to SERVE, he bears great hardships, and exerts himself in ways he could never have conceived, in order to connect with these people. He comes to love them, profoundly.

And their love for him in return, even those who have reason to be suspicious of him, is a testament to his sincerity.

Please recall that this is a TRUE STORY. Whatever you might think of John Groberg's religion, or his motives, the fact is that these things actually happened in just this way. He DID travel from Idaho to Tonga, he did live among the people there, he did come to gain their trust, he did bring to them a precious gift of faith, and he did return often throughout the rest of his life, with his wife and family, to be among these people whom he loved.

That anyone could be so callously dismissive of this truth is a sad commentary on our "post-Christian" society.

But I found this film to be deeply moving and very satisfying, and I recommend it highly to those who enjoy inspiring film.

Normally LDS subject films like The Other Side Of Heaven are usually produced in Salt Lake City by Mormons. But this film, the true life adventure of a missionary in the South Pacific island kingdom of Tonga was done by the Disney Studios. That being said it is perfectly within the Disney parameters of family entertainment.

John Groberg as played here by Christopher Gorham is a kid who likes his faith with a little rock and roll in the Eisenhower Fifties. He plays a mean trumpet and is awaiting his mission assignment. It turns out to be the exotic south seas certainly with enough temptation that few can withstand. Still it's something if not required, expected of him to do his two year bit before he marries Anne Hathaway.

Stories about Mormon Missionaries and I've reviewed a few of them now have one common thread, it's the culture shock. No matter whether it's Tonga, Tenafly or Buffalo these kids leave a cocoon like existence in their Mormon communities to go out into the big world to do their thing. That's what films like God's Army, The Best Two Years and this film have in common.

The Pacific Islands have always held special interest for the LDS church. They have charge of the Polynesian Cultural Center in Honolulu and I give the church credit for helping to preserve the Polynesian Culture of several peoples.

Young Gorham doesn't preach and baptize, he makes real contributions to the daily lives of this remote region. With disease and tidal waves to battle among other things, the Magic Kingdom did a great job with the special effects in The Other Side Of Heaven.

Anne Hathaway does appear in the film, but it's her voice in the letters they exchange that is her real contribution. In fact it was touching to see these two young people, deeply in love speaking their letters in voice over. In this age of electronic mail, a film like this showing the romance and poetry between Gorham and Hathaway is a depiction of a sadly bygone age.

Disney Studios recognized that this film would have a wider appeal than just among Mormons and it does. It's a fine family film, but LDS audiences will appreciate it most of all.

Considering that this movie was neither made by, nor endorsed by, the LDS church, The Other Side of Heaven is an endearing, uplifting movie that celebrates and pays respect to Mormon missionaries without going too deep into LDS philosophy or beliefs. Produced in part by the same producer who brought us such cinematic gems as Schindler's List and Jurassic Park, Heaven is refreshingly devoid of many "blockbuster"-style elements and is a very low-key presentation of a young man's struggle to survive, adapt, and succeed in a world far far away from his familiar hometown in Idaho.

In the early 1950's Elder John Groberg from Idaho Falls accepts a call to serve a three-year LDS mission to Tonga. Although he is thrilled and dedicated to his mission call, he is understandably concerned about leaving Jean, the love of his life, in Utah for fear that she will marry somebody else. Yet his faith and determination to do what he believes is right are shown throughout this movie as his motivation to stay through the hardships, the loneliness, and the difficulties that are faced during his mission.

The Other Side of Heaven is essentially a chronicle of Elder Groberg's true life mission. At times spiritual, humorous, frightening, and uplifting, the movie is a tribute to a young man who faced overwhelming odds and setbacks to continually overcome some of the most difficult situations ever beset a young missionary. Throughout the film, Elder Groberg's letters to Jean and her letters back to him keep the film centered on it's true message, that of a man out of place . . . loving where he is, but wishing at the same time, to be home with the others that he loves. And it is this internal struggle which, I am sure, has been faced by every other missionary in history, that gives the movie its depth and emotional quality.

My only criticism of the movie comes from the very brief explanation of the traditions and culture surrounding LDS missionaries and the way in which they receive their calls. For those who are familiar with LDS missions, this should be no problem, but for those viewers who have not been exposed to the process of a Mormon mission, the first 15 or 20 minutes may seem a bit confusing. There is another bit of Mormon tradition which is very poorly explained, but I can't tell you what it is without giving away a fairly poignant moment of the film's ending.

Nevertheless, The Other Side of Heaven is not just a Mormon movie. It is a movie that can be enjoyed and appreciated by people of all faiths (and even those of no faith). Because in the final analysis, this is a movie about the triumph of the spirit and the joys and rewards of fighting for, and doing something, you truly believe in.

There takes something to make a good movie that well represents the feelings that come through special experiences. I am well familiar with the LDS mission experience. To people of the LDS faith this can be one of the most special experiences of their lifetime. The Other Side of Heaven portrayed that better than any other film I have seen. God's Army, a movie that was also made to depict the life of an LDS missionary, was good at introducing the LDS culture to those who do not share that faith. But it lacked the spiritual feelings that also come from such an experience. The Other Side of Heaven was more successful at portraying the spiritual feelings that come from serving an LDS mission. Feelings are big for me, when I watch a movie that is what I look for most. In a scary movie I want to feel scared. In a comedy I want to feel happy. In a film that is suppose to represent a spiritual experience I want to feel a spiritual experience. God's Army didn't do that, The Other Side of Heaven did.

The Other Side of Heaven also did a good job at portraying what it is like for a person from a different culture and lifestyle clashing with a new culture for the first time. The things that happened to the main character, Elder Groberg, while getting to know the people from the new culture are very similar to others who have done the same. God's Army was did well at showing what LDS missionaries serving in the U.S. would go through. The Other side of Heaven did a good job at showing what LDS missionaries on a foreign island would go through. Although many may not experience all the extremities Elder Groberg went through, much of his interactions with the people are similar.

I hope to see more movies based on true stories do their best to portray the feelings and experiences that come from the story of what actually happened. The Movie Gandhi and Seven Years in Tibet did that. The film The Other Side of Heaven is right there with them.

I loved this movie!!! My father is Tongan and my mother is Samoan (the first island Elder Groberg landed at the beginning of his journey). Even though I was born and raised here in the US, I have been exposed to my Polynesian roots and love and embrace both cultures of who I am (Polynesian side and American side).

I have to say that my family and I LOVED this movie. It is refreshing to watch a beautiful movie without all the sex, violence and vulgar material that permeates our society today. This movie is about True Love on so many levels - the love between Elder Groberg and his future bride Jean, the love between the Tongan people and Elder Groberg and the love between Our Lord and his children. No, I'm not Mormon, I'm actually an Assembly of God Christian, however that does not overshadow my appreciation for this movie.

The depiction of the people of Tonga is accurate. They are a lighthearted and loving group of people who love to laugh and find joy in the simple things of life. They are all about respect and honoring one's family. The scene of the first funeral brought back memories for me as it illustrated exactly how these kind people handle the departing of a loved one. When my dear Grandmother Siu passed away in 1994, my family and I traveled back to Vava'u (an island within the Kingdom of Tonga) to lay her to rest. The unmasked grief and crying as depicted in the movie was exactly how my grandmother's funeral was. The crying and grieving took place for 1 full day (24 hours - day and night) while different groups of people from all the villages on the island, came to pay their last respects.

Hats off to Disney for going out on a limb to bring the story of one young man's journey of faith and trials and tribulations of his mission to the big screen! Well done!