Review of Higher Ground (2011) by Thomas W — 12 Jan 2012

Rarely is a Hollywood film about faith handled with as much care and poetic grace as Higher Ground, actress Vera Farmiga's directorial debut. Farmiga (The Departed, Up in the Air, Source Code) stars as Corinne, a very devout and highly-conservative wife and mother who's homelife starts to come apart when she begins to have doubts and concerns regarding her own faith and the path set-out for her (wife, mother .

.. ). Finding comfort with her best friend -- another devout wife with whom she is simply able to relax and be carefree around -- everything changes when her friend is diagnosed with an advanced form of brain tumor which leaves her forever changed.

Losing that outlet in her life and being expected to remain quiet and loyal, Corinne finds herself rebelling in different ways -- daring to speak-out at church, wearing a shoulder's-baring maternity gown, learning how to play an instrument.

While there is quite a bit of character interaction found throughout Higher Ground, its best parts are of Farmiga contemplating and coming to turns with stuggle and life. One scene in particular with a long, lingering take of a pensive Corinne shows Farmiga at her best.

Something of interest -- playing a young Corinne is Vera's very own, real-life younger sister Taissa (of FX's America Horror Story). While the film does make one question some policy of this Southern Baptist congregation, religion is treated with the utmost respect here and that should be commended as more-often-than-not Hollywood serves up cultists, monks/nuns or polygamists in place of church which is rather insulting.

There have been better movies released this year; but few better about religion (like Red State ... ugh).