Review of Higher Ground (2011) by Jonathan B — 17 Jan 2012

At this point in time Christianity is something rarely portrayed accurately or engagingly on the big screen, by both non-Christians and Christians alike. It is what it is. Thus while Higher Ground is better than most, it still can't help but skewer things a little too much in a Jesus Camp manner, for lack of a better definition.

There are plenty of things to be commended about the film, however. It is an encouraging directorial debut from actress Vera Farmiga, who shows she has plenty of skill behind the camera as well as in front of it, and the cast does a stand-up job.

It also doesn't vilify faith or its characters, so even though their central beliefs may be misguided, it's at least even in that regard. But overall I think Higher Ground works stronger from a feminist viewpoint on womanhood and discovering your own voice, because really it is no surprise that, spoiler alert, the film implies Farmiga's character turns her back on her faith, since it was a flawed one to start with.