The Other Side of Heaven (2001)

Director:

Mitch Davis

Writers:

Mitch Davis (writer)
John H. Groberg (book)

Release Date:

12 April 2002 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Biography | Drama

Tagline:

An Epic Journey.

Plot:

John Groberg, a farm kid from Idaho Falls, crosses an ocean to become a missionary in the remote and exotic Tongan islands during the 1950's.

Plot Keywords:

Idaho | Missionary | Love | Mormon | 1950s

Awards:

1 win

Cast

Christopher Gorham	...	John Groberg
Anne Hathaway	...	Jean Sabin
Joe Folau	...	Feki (as Joseph Folau)
Nathaniel Lees	...	Kelepi
Miriama Smith	...	Lavania
Alvin Fitisemanu	...	Tomasi
Peter Sa'ena-Brown	...	Kuli
Whetu Fala	...	Asi
Apii McKinley	...	Noli
Paki Cherrington	...	Minister (as Te Paki Cherrington)
Jeremy Birchall	...	Edward
Ross Duncan	...	John's Father
Maggie Harper	...	John's Mother
Rick Leckinger	...	Photographer
Brian Richards	...	Crowd Member #1

Also Known As:

Eye of the Storm (USA) (working title)
Kolipoki (Tonga) (informal title) [to]
L'altro lato del paradiso (Italy) [it]
O Outro Lado do Céu (Brazil) [pt]
Saari (Finland) (DVD title) [fi]
Stin alli ohthi tou Paradeisou (Greece) (DVD title) [el]

MPAA:

Rated PG for thematic elements and brief disturbing images.

Runtime:

113 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Tonga (Tonga Islands)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Malaysia:U | Singapore:PG | USA:PG

Filming Locations:

New Zealand

Company:

3Mark Entertainment

Trivia:

Rats really did eat the soles off John H. Groberg's feet; they split open when he stood up. Later in life he was diagnosed with skin cancer on the soles of his feet. His doctor was curious about how he exposed the soles of his feet to the sun, and he explained that the treatment for his injury in Tonga had been to sear his soles with the heat of the sun.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: The film starts with a dance at Brigham Young University in 1953. A couple sing the song "Rip it Up". That song was first recorded by Little Richard in 1956.

Quotes:

John Groberg: There is a connection between heaven and earth. Finding that connection gives meaning to everything, including death. Losing that connection makes everything lose meaning, including life.

Movie Connections:

Featured in The Making of 'The Other Side of Heaven' (2003) (TV)

Soundtrack:

The Lone Ranger

Nice story, limited audience

I really did enjoy this film, although it is certainly no cinematic masterpiece, however I do think it would be of fairly limited appeal to a non-Mormon audience. It is a fairly slow and simple story, done fairly simplistically, but not without its charms. To really appreciate it I suspect one would need to have some background knowledge of the key elements of the movie. I was certainly surprised to see it as a Disney movie and was mortified to see other posters suggesting that the advertising for the film was less than forthcoming on the true nature of the storyline. For what it is, its very entertaining and uplifting, but I would strongly suspect that this film will not appeal to a wide audience. My Vote 7/10 (although I unashamedly admit my own bias)