Higher Ground

[Edward theurj Berge]

I'm going to see this movie today, will  let you know what I think. Anyone see it yet? Reviews? Here's Ebert's review, giving it 3.5 stars out of 4. And here's the blurb from Yahoo movies:

"Pregnant, married, and awkward at eighteen years old, Carolyn Briggs grows more and more interested in Jesus, eventually giving herself over to a radical New Testament church. Amidst her community of self-described 'Jesus Freaks,' Carolyn's daily life consists of hours of Bible study, alternative family practices and bracing for the oncoming Rapture. It's only when her marriage begins to unravel that Carolyn dares to question the religious dogma she has embraced for her entire adult life"

[Douglas R Wallack]

Thanks Ed,

This looks interesting!

[Balder]

Ed, any report on the movie?  How was it?

[Edward theurj Berge]

Well made, acted and directed. As Ebert noted, the director (also the lead actress) didn't pass judgment on the 'Jesus freaks" but tried to remain descriptive (to whatever degree that is possible). I however found myself being judgmental all the way though, for this is fundamentalism through and through. I keep hearing myself ranting like Sam Harris against this sort of crap and wishing the film would make a statement about it, but it was too forgiving. Which I guess was one of its points, that the right or religious thing is to be tolerant. But it is being tolerant of intolerance, in my view, and patriarchy and a host of other ills.

Still, well done and even though the protagonist wife had doubts and a dark night of the soul she still admired that kind of dumb, blind faith her peers had. And the ending seemed to leave open whether she would continue to try to find that faith or leave the fold.