Product Details

• Actors: Christopher Gorham, Anne Hathaway, Joe Folau, Nathaniel Lees, Miriama Smith
• Directors: Mitch Davis
• Format: Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, DVD, Widescreen, NTSC
• Language: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
• Studio: Walt Disney Video
• DVD Release Date: April 1, 2003
• Run Time: 113 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (96 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B00008CMSU
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #9,734 in Movies & TV (See Bestsellers in Movies & TV)

  Popular in this category: (What's this?)

  #54 in

  Movies & TV > Drama > Religion

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
A half-century after the real John Groberg left Idaho to serve a three-year mission in Tonga, actor Christopher Gorham (A Life Less Ordinary) gracefully slips into the Mormon Elder's shoes in The Other Side of Heaven. A gifted cross between Tom Hanks and Tom Cruise, Gorham effortlessly carries this touching story of a young man's struggle to adapt and thrive in a completely foreign land. He may look like a bar of soap, standing in his suit and tie against the lush palms and shimmering waters of his new surroundings; but as daily island living hits Groberg with death, disease, and natural disaster, this missionary's determination and courage shine through. Heartfelt letters Gorham writes to his true love (sweetly portrayed by Anne Hathaway) and her candid replies underscore profound--or profoundly normal--events and impressions the two experience while apart. It's an uplifting, tear-invoking family drama that benefits even more from fine acting, artful direction, and an Academy Award-winning producer (Gerald R. Molen, Schindler's List). (Ages 10 and older) --Liane Thomas

Product Description
Walt Disney Home Entertainment presents THE OTHER SIDE OF HEAVEN, a thrilling and epic adventure starring Anne Hathaway (THE PRINCESS DIARIES) and Christopher Gorham (TV's FELICITY). When 19-year-old John Groberg (Gorham) is sent on a three-year mission to Tonga, he has no idea what he's getting into. Just getting to Tonga is fraught with danger and unbelievable obstacles. Once there, he finds himself in the midst of a culture as remote to him as the island is to his Idaho Falls home. Not understanding the language, and lonely for his fiancee Jean (Hathaway), John faces suspicion, distrust, typhoons, tidal waves, mosquitoes, and other perils of man and nature as he reaches out to the people of Tonga. Filled with adventure, breathtaking scenery, and humor, THE OTHER SIDE OF HEAVEN is a coming-of-age film your whole family will enjoy.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

31 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A boy in paradise?, April 12, 2002

By A Customer

This is (part of) the story of one 20 year old Mormon boy's experiences while on his mission to Tonga in 1954. It is an adventure story with an emphasis on faith and personal relationships.
It may be difficult for anyone without faith to understand why John Groberg, or any other young person, would go on a mission, but if you can suspend your skepticism, you will be rewarded. The missionary came across as a little nerdy, but you can't help but cheer for his successes and pity his failures as he deals with homesickness and culture shock while trying to learn Tongan and preach.
The scenery and musical score are beautiful, and you can almost feel the humidity and bugs that go with a tropical paradise. What I found most appealing of all were the Tongans themselves. I don't know if the actors are professionals or locals or local professionals, but they gave the movie its heart.
I found the movie/story so compelling that I went out and bought the book and the CD and look forward to someday visiting that part of the world.

44 of 49 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Not outwardly spectacular, January 6, 2002

By	Drex Olympus (Provo, UT USA) - See all my reviews

Working off a *very* modest budget of $7 million for a nearly two-hour film, it's no wonder there are parts of this movie where there was a definite lack of funding. The camera shots in one scene could have been better pulled off by a teenager with a camcorder, and some of the waves in the storm scene look like they're in a pool.

On the other hand, though, this movie wasn't meant to be a technological marvel.

This movie tells the missionary story of John H. Groberg, a Seventy in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He served in far-away Tonga, without knowing a lick of the language. Given only two goals (learn the language and build the kingdom), John faces many obstacles. Language barriers, a stubborn minister, storms, death, and rats. On top of all that, his girlfriend in the States, Jean, is staving off suitors, anxiously awaiting John's return 3 years hence.

I really liked The Other Side of Heaven. It wasn't too preachy, but it conveyed great emotions in many of its scenes. There were a few cheesy scenes and some cliche sections, but overall the humor was clever, the plot enjoyable (and easy to follow), and emotion touching. A great movie that I hope many will be able to see.

37 of 41 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This Side of Heaven for me., April 13, 2002

By	Margaret Bauer "hoodsportjo" (Hoodsport, Washington United States) - See all my reviews

... Had I known [this movie] was about a Morman missionary in Tonga I probably would never had gone. Well, somebody up there likes me. I am glad I went.

It was a beautiful story but realistic also. Having spent 3 years myself in the mission field in another culture (Alaskan native peoples) I could relate. The film had everything from humor like when the young elder gives his first speech in the language of the people. He confuses the word "Lighthouse" with "Outhouse." The audience both on screen and in the theatre laughed long and loud for that one. Serious moments too like when he prays for the child thought dead - exciting moments on the sea, hurricane, and ordinary times of prayer, fasting, and feasting. Ann Hathaway does a good job as the girl who is left back home - the faithful letter writer of 3 years. I would liked to have seen more of her in the story. The people who played the native islanders were excellent and darn near stole the show. But then it wasn't really a show to be stolen. Just a good story, that's what! However, I rest my promotion and am not ready to convert to the LDS but I did learn more about their courage and love for all of God's people. I respect that and I respect this more than adequate, gentle, and fine telling of a real young man's story.