Review of Higher Ground (2011) by Megan K — 06 Feb 2011

Premiered at Sundance last week, Higher Ground is a story about faith yearned for, found, lost, and rediscovered. It is the story of Corrine, a child of the 1960s who finds meaning and purpose with the Jesus People Movement, a conservative Christian movement that introduced hippies to God.

But as Corinne's free spirit bumps against some conservative beliefs, her spirit and identity are left yearning for more.Higher Ground is a "crisis of faith" story, but it is so much more than that.

Based on a personal memoir, it is a nuanced and textured tale of awakening to self, in which past and future, relationships and freedom, come crashing together in a way that is so very messy, but so very real.

Corrine's story reflects a deep spiritual yearning with which most of us can resonate. In the Sundance Q&A, the film's producer and actress Vera Farmiga says about her own inspiration, "I'm just looking for higher ground.

I connected with Corinne's yearning. She's not ridding herself of faith; she's ridding herself of an impoverished faith." However many faith traditions (or non-traditions) were present in the Sundance screening, Farmiga's words drew a resounding applause.

Most of us yearn for something deeper - call it truth, God, or higher ground. This film helps us on that journey, telling us that sometimes the journey itself is the destination.