Review of Heaven Is for Real (2014) by Filipeneto — 06 Jul 2018

In this film, a near-death incident allows a child an unusual view of life beyond death, and is one of the so-called "Christian movies", made by US evangelical Christians to propagandize their religion.

Throughout the plot, the existence of life after death is taken as a certainty, with scientific explanations being (purposely) unreliable, which makes it hardly suitable for those who don't believe in it.

Despite the unfortunate evangelical propaganda, the film presents an interesting problem, valid to any religion or belief system: it confront adults with their own beliefs using a child, reinforcing the idea of ​​innocence, as if a child were unable to lie.

Adults say they believe in some things but are always doubting and are unable to deal with any evidence, even if it support their beliefs. That denounces some hypocrisy underlying most religions, including the one who sponsored the film.

This is interesting to see and take away some of the propagandistic load that permeates the film, full of feelings but avoiding being corny. I don't know anyone from the cast, but they did a decent job.

However, this movie is not a dramatic show. Its worth for it's story and the problem it brings, even if it's spoiled by partiality and religious propaganda.