Video: The Other Side of Heaven

[moonwhim]

Good movie!

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.

[Juliette]

Good movie!

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.

One of my favorite movies!

[kathyn]

I have seen this movie several times and really love it.

[AussieOi]

my wife and I saw it a few years ago and thought it was patronising rubbish

Utah mormons would love it, polynesians would probably shake their head

as simplistic and demeaning as watching 1950s hollywood westerns and their portrayal of Indians

[Juliette]

I loved the music. I can understand why you didn't like it Aussie. Its a little slow considering a person has Asbergers.

[karen2cruise]

my wife and I saw it a few years ago and thought it was patronising rubbish

Utah mormons would love it, polynesians would probably shake their head

as simplistic and demeaning as watching 1950s hollywood westerns and their portrayal of Indians

I respectfully disagree.

Movies can never treat complex issues in an adequate amount of time, but it can give an overall feeling of what occurred, which this movie did. The movie's topic was not unimportant, especially to those who lived it many years ago. The movie treated everyone realistically and with dignity and respect and to what life was really like and taught lessons about belief, hope and valuing oneself.

As my son has just recently returned from two years of missionary service in that area of the world it is spot on true. His many letters/emails home talked of cultural differences, humility, tradition, poverty and yet great faith and hope.

[Juliette]

my wife and I saw it a few years ago and thought it was patronising rubbish

Utah mormons would love it, polynesians would probably shake their head

as simplistic and demeaning as watching 1950s hollywood westerns and their portrayal of Indians

I respectfully disagree.

Movies can never treat complex issues in an adequate amount of time, but it can give an overall feeling of what occurred, which this movie did. The movie's topic was not unimportant, especially to those who lived it many years ago. The movie treated everyone realistically and with dignity and respect and to what life was really like and taught lessons about belief, hope and valuing oneself.

As my son has just recently returned from two years of missionary service in that area of the world it is spot on true. His many letters/emails home talked of cultural differences, humility, tradition, poverty and yet great faith and hope.

I agree Karen and I am happy to hear about your Missionary! :ymhug:

[JohnnyL]

It was much better than I had expected (especially after the opening scene--worst part of the film).

[AussieOi]

Movies can never treat complex issues in an adequate amount of time, .

karen this was pop culture for mormongs at its finest

complex issues?
maybe for americans

as for the missionaries letters home, thats up there with "i learned to love the people"...when I hear that i find the charitable nature of it so overwhelming i have to sit down

[bbrown]

I read the book which was much better (usually are). After that the movie seemed to be lacking, plus it reeked of Disney. That said there is a large group of Tongans here and most of them got teary eyed and homesick watching it, at least the adults who came from there. The scenery I guess?

[AussieOi]

I read the book which was much better (usually are). After that the movie seemed to be lacking, plus it reeked of Disney. That said there is a large group of Tongans here and most of them got teary eyed and homesick watching it, at least the adults who came from there. The scenery I guess?

there's a lot of people in sweat shops who think their life is good too

i wonder if blacks at the time thought "well, at least we're being recognised" when they saw blackface and Al Jolson etc?

now of course it is repugnant, recognised for how demeaning it is

also, i dont count the US tongans and Samoans as Tongans or Samoans. if you aren't living in Asia Pacific, you've left as far as im concerned

[Kandeep]

I read the book which was much better (usually are). After that the movie seemed to be lacking, plus it reeked of Disney. That said there is a large group of Tongans here and most of them got teary eyed and homesick watching it, at least the adults who came from there. The scenery I guess?

there's a lot of people in sweat shops who think their life is good too

i wonder if blacks at the time thought "well, at least we're being recognised" when they saw blackface and Al Jolson etc?

now of course it is repugnant, recognised for how demeaning it is

also, i dont count the US tongans and Samoans as Tongans or Samoans. if you aren't living in Asia Pacific, you've left as far as im concerned

I served in Australia and many of the Polynesians there loved Johnny Lingo but I wouldn't know their opinion of this movie since it hadn't come out in 1997. I agree with whomever said it was very Disney... I've read the book and it's far better.

As far as you being the judge of who and who is not Tongan or Samoan because of their location.. I find that odd. That would be like saying if you had to move to the US or somewhere else it would make you less Australian. Or if I moved to Australia it would make me less of an American. Just because you've left a place it doesn't change your nationality/heritage, whether you deem it so or not. I have many friends of Tongan and Samoan descent that still own property in the islands and visit there regularly. Many left the island to seek opportunity for betterment. I did not find the Australian Tongans and Samoans and Maoris, for that matter, any less open and loving and kind then those that I know here. In fact they were markedly the same. That is part of what I love about those people and wish my own stuffy America would better emulate.

[sourcedist]

many of the actors in the film were not even tongan.,. they were mainly maori.

in any case, the film delievered a good message... no need to be find offense where there is little(if none)

forward onto zion as i would say.