The Other Side of Heaven on DVD

We thought from the first couple of minutes that this movie would be a sickening dose of political correctness run amok.

We were wrong.

The Other Side of Heaven is a terrific movie, the story of a young man’s journey from idealist youth to seasoned human being thanks to a tour of duty in the South Pacific as a Mormon missionary. It’s a movie to warm the heart and soul, yet never descends into sappiness or schmaltz.

Christopher Gorham plays John Groberg, the boy/man protagonist. At the film’s opening he’s a Brigham Young University student deeply in love with Jean Sabin (Anne Hathway). They’re kind of engaged, or at least agreeing to become engaged when his mission is finished, and throughout the movie their correspondences help keep each of them (and us) focused on their promise and always aware of the different worlds they’re now both inhabiting.

John is assigned to a tiny island community of Tonga, an absolutely gorgeous location populated by a happy and intelligent people learning to be Christian. It’s a real fish out of water tale as he learns the local language and customs, suffers some really awful wounds, copes with misunderstandings between the two cultures, and generally tries to do his best in his role as missionary.

He’s a decent fellow who grows impressively as his daily life brings him face to face with disease, death and disaster, and his character and determination allow him to rise. As mentioned, his and Jean’s string of letters counterpoint his tells of the challenges of what looks mostly like an idyllic existence with her news of the ultimately ordinary events of back home, a suitor competing for her attentions and other mundane and not so mundane tales of the life he left but will resume again when the time is right.

John’s main competition for the souls of the islanders comes from an old preacher who refuses to give John the time of day until, much later, when both of them discover that they’re really on the same team and serve the same higher purpose.

It’s a story of striviand features some positively heartbreakingly-beautiful cinematography and locations. It made us want to pack up and move to Tongo, except for the insects and heat!

The DVD is very good and for the most part does this wonderful movie justice. The picture is presented in anamorphic widescreen, 16x9 TV compatible, and the colors are rich and glorious - though the picture does suffer from softness in places.

Audio is Dolby Digital 5.1 surround and though the surround is used sparingly it’s used very well when invoked. Overall sound quality is very good; the opening scene of the school dance features a wonderful “live” music track, and some of the weather encountered later in the film envelope on in the aural experience.

Extras include a just-shy-of-half-hour “making of” feature that’s quite interesting, though grainy and not anamorphic, an interesting running audio commentary with director Mitch Davis, and a still photo gallery.

The Other Side of Heaven, from Walt Disney Home Video
113 min. anamorphic widescreen (1.85:1), 16x9 TV compatible, Dolby Digital 5.1 surround
Starring Christopher Gorham, Anne Hathaway, Nathaniel Lees, Joseph Folau
Produced by Gerald R. MOlen & John Garrett,
Written and directed by Mitch Davis

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