Review of The Errand of Angels (2008) by Davey M — 08 Nov 2009

After "New York Doll" and Richard Dutcher's films, this is probably the best theatrical feature made by Mormons about Mormons. It's not a great film--I could have done without the voice over, and some other moments that felt a bit church video-ey--but overall it's a sweet, sincere, low-key movie about missionary work, with good performances and real characters, a nice low-budget independent-international aesthetic, and a few moments of quiet spirituality that are quite lovely.

It's nice to see a movie about missionary work that acknowledges that the greatest lesson a religion mission can teach (in my opinion, as someone who admittedly has not had first-hand experience) is that the most important thing you can do is learn to love others in spite of and because of their differences--differences perceived and actual, in belief, in personality, in personal preferences, race, socioeconomic standing, whatever.