Review of Higher Ground (2011) by Alec B — 11 Jan 2012

I have always found Hollywood's relationship with religion interesting if not disrespectful. They look down upon those who find comfort in a higher power, who strive to live a better life to win the approval of a God that may or may not exist.

Hollywood looks down upon them because it is more of a self-interested place and one where the here and now matters more than the what is to come. It has always painted religious people as persons of black or white, of absolutes.

This part at least, is false with most Christians. There is a versatility to people no matter if you believe in God or not and that is what director and star Vera Farmiga explores with her directorial debut "Higher Ground".

The film tells the story of Corinne Walker (played by Farmiga in her adult years and younger sister Taissa in her teens) a woman who as a small girl wanted to give herself to God. As she matures into her teens though she becomes interested in things some might not deem holy.

She falls for a young rocker with long hair and aviators and is soon pregnant and they are married. It is after a few years of marriage that Corinne and her husband Ethan (Joshua Leonard) join a small house church and give their lives completely over to God.

The characters and their ideals are handled with such grace it is almost strange to see them depicted this way as we are used to either being talked down to or dismissed as weirdo's. Religion and God are no doubt difficult subjects to tackle but Farmiga shows Corinne struggle while never really dismissing her faith.

She illustrates Ethan as a man so burdened by his ideals that he becomes the last thing he ever really wanted to be. The presence of God seeps into every aspect of their lives that for Corinne it almost begins to feel intrusive as she begins to questions the mindset of those she has surrounded herself with.

It is an insightful film that every person will likely have a different reaction to, but regardless it is refreshing to see a film about faith treated with respect and authenticity.