Higher Ground [HD]

A substantial work of sensitivity and excellence.
Professional critics were fairly lukewarm toward this film, although even then, many acknowledged that elements within it are exceptional. For one thing, it is very unusual to see a serious work that treats religion--and a rather fundamentalist form of Christianity at that--seriously and without insult, irony, or undue reverence. Most films focusing on related topics either satirize people of faith (Saved!) or offer syrupy endorsements of faith Fireproof). Rarely is faith depicted as the mixed bag it often is. While "Higher Ground" doesn't have the same scope and grandeur, in that one particular--treating faith seriously--it reminded me most of The Mission (Two-Disc Special Edition).

I was surprised and delighted to see all of the five-star reviews already...

Faith Is The Issue At Hand And How One Keeps It. Possibly - or Not - On Higher Ground.
Vera Farmiga tackles yet another topic that could have been inflammatory although with her, it is not. Using an honesty and bravery as she is so often capable of in this her directing debut. She is looking at the subject of one woman's (Corrine Miller, also portrayed by Farmiga) faith and the eventual questioning about this through the vehicle of the 1970's Fundamentalist movement.

This portrait has a lovely soundtrack (Alec Puro) that brings this all to life and is definitely worth noting. Farmiga directs without the condescending or mocking tone towards Christianity which is often present in films. It has a broad appeal, to the believer and the nonbeliever alike. It is a question of personal faith, not of righteousness, through Christianity.

The movie starts with Corrine's childhood in Vacation Bible School, with the pastor Bud (done wonderfully by Bill Irwin). The picture quickly shifts to Corrine's teenage years. She is a writer and meets her future...

Touching, Low-Key Realism
This is a review of the movie DVD disc only.

The film doesn't have the look of a plotted, story-boarded narrative. There's no imposed arc or resolution to the gentle moments of a woman's life shown here. We see her low-key movement toward, and then away from, religious attendance.

Contrary to what the film's cover might lead one to believe, this is no indictment of another megalomaniacal cult leader. There are no bad guys here. This film does a remarkable job presenting a series of realistic, slice-of-life scenes. We feel as if we are eavesdropping in a woman's everyday kitchen, at her everyday church services.

The producers also did a remarkable job finding actors to play the lead as a girl, then as a teen, then as a mature woman. For once, there does appear to be a continuity of features, unlike most films involving time progressions in which it's impossible to believe that child grew into an adult who would look like that.

This whole film...

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