Customer Reviews

Worlds Apart

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Actually I just caught this movie on cable. I grew up JW and knew exactly what this young woman was going through. I cried the whole movie! It's sad that cults like this can tear families apart in the name of God. It's a great movie and I highly recommend it to anyone who grew up,left or is thinking about joining the JW'S.

This movie is very fair, well-done, and extemely accurate. As a former Jehovah's Witness, I can say that one of the greatest pain a Witness can face is the choice to leave. To leave this religion doesn't mean that you are leaving that faith only. It means that you lose those people who stay in the faith who are so dear to you, whether it being your mother, father, or other beloved family members and friends. Witnesses potray ones who leave to religion as very selfish. This movie is very true in showing the pain and sorrow of leaving from the other persons perspective. It does not bash the Witnesses (I was purposely looking to inaccuracies to which I really didn't find any). This is a story that needs to be told because the main character, Sara, is one of thousands who have experience this heartache, a pain that never goes away. The usual response from an active Witness would be "that one who leaves knows the consequenses". There is nothing that could ever prepare a person or having them comprehend the enormity of losing the ones that they love so much. The ones that will appreciate this story the most will be the ones who have left as they will no doubt be able to relate to atleast an extent of it. It will help non-Witnesses see what happens when one leave the organization and give them insight as to what they believe.

the movie "worlds apart" played on a cable channel last night and i just happened to catch it just as it began. without mentioning too many details, by the time the movie was finished i felt as if i had been inside the life of an "on the verge of womanhood," teenager confronted with a choice of standing by her family's strict religious upbringing or choosing to leave the faith and family for a carnal relationship out in the wider world. the acting was good, very natural, and i didn't have the sense of watching people act. the lead player was the warmhearted eldest daughter and family caretaker but, interestingly, she had her own very strong personality and some personal ideals she silently clung to throughout this movie. i really enjoyed watching this drama play out and was bit surprised and pleased at this young actors soulful integrity within what seems a highly realistic movie. the subtitles were a little bit fast as i recall now but as with most movies one finds compelling watching, the moment by moment contextual meaning see's you through what you may miss in line reading. a fine movie.

I was raised in "the organization" ie JWs. I left because I learned the organization had lied about there being a literal global flood in the days of Noah. I wished to sort older rocks into pre and post flood. In a core sample there should be a layer of topsoil shift from a flood, death of plants that require dryer soil, death of sun loving plants during time the water vapor for the flood encircled the earth etc. I had been raised to literally believe that the flood was an actual historical event. The date for the flood can be calculated from calculating the age of noah at the time of the flood, the age of his children, and then the age of each person in a genealogy line up to christ when each person in this line had offspring also in the genealogy of christ. I came to realize the evidence for a global flood was not there. There is no record of it in the soil. The Egyptians for example around during that time failed to notice that the world was destroyed save for Noah and his family. It was a myth. The organization had lied to me. If that was a lie, the bible and the elders in the organization were not a completely truthful source of information. I had to start reading on my own and sort out what was true and what was not. Truth was more important to me than membership in the group. Once its possible to question the organization's teachings mentally the teachings begin to fall apart. The teaching that the earth was only about 6000 years old fell next for me. I had problems in that Jesus in the sermon on the mount in Matthew chapters 5-7 forbid public prayer for example in the church / synagogue. The organization still had its members pray together at meetings. I could go on, but you get the idea. Once its possible to question, then many questions crop up and the answers werent always in favor of the JWs. If they were really from a true god, truth should always have been found on their side. As Im no longer a JW I felt the need to first disclose this so that you can know from which point of view I am reviewing this film.
I find that this movie shows some things that I have had difficulty explaining to outsiders. The divisions between families is one. People walking past others on the streets as though they are not there is another even if prior close friends or family. Banning over things that include reading "the wrong book(s)" and / or disagreeing with members higher up in a local congregation ie "the elders". The movie depicts the strong belief about the worlds impending end and the ramifications to include young members pushed to quit school, and others encouraged to quit their jobs before the "end". I was around for the "end of this system" in 1975. The organization made no apology to these people after the end did not come. I even remember members being encouraged to sell their homes, live off part of the money for the next few months until the end and donate the rest to the organization. As far as I know, none of the money was refunded. Those that complained were banned for creating dissent among "god's people". The movie shows a friend of the major character that dies rather than receive a blood transfusion after an accident. This is highly praised as a good thing. I also remember a similar event from my childhood involving a local family and their child.
The film portrays elders visits to put pressure on members to rejoin as well as family pressure to do likewise. This is encouraged by the central organization. As I did not leave over a sexual misconduct issue I can not directly report on meetings of the judicial committee for that offense.
Other reviewers complain that the main character in effect doesnt seem to know her own mind. Who does at 17? Part of the work of teen years is to figure out who you are and what you want from life. I am grateful they didnt change to details to try to make the main character larger than life. Im not sure some of the mental work comes across to an outsider. What do you do once you realize this world isnt ending when your friends and family still expect you to bang on doors and announce that it is? At the early stages of transition away your not even sure your right about your doubts.
This movie shows the major character teaching her little brother to be a witness, and later having to deal with that when she no longer is one. It shows how the transition in her belief system effects her relationship with parents, siblings, and boyfriend.
Most people know of witnesses. Few understand the depth of belief. Would you give up all that you own, all relationships, and even your life for a belief? When I was in the organization I would have very readily. The mind control is that extensive. How do you reach out to such people that knock on your door? Watching this film can assist in understanding the mind set.
Get the film. Because it may help you understand and / or assist others it may be the most important film you ever watch.
If your an XJW your not alone. I am as well. I am now a secular humanist.

(***Potential spoilers***)

First, to expect this movie to be like every other movie is unfair. It does not exist for the sole reason to entertain you like "Die Hard" or "Shawshank Redemption." This is what some REAL JW's have to deal with, exactly. This is a recreation of their REAL world. I just watched it with a room full of exJW's, with multiple females in it having gone through nearly identical situations and even disfellowshippings. I know at least 3 others that have gone through the same. If you have never been a JW, then you may find this not as thrilling of a "movie" as some others you are used to. However, this movie has tremendous value in it clearly showing you the overwhelming no-win complexity in choices that most non-JW (or maybe non-cult) people never have to struggle with. So, don't downgrade this highly accurate movie on that petty concept because of your ignorance. Not everything is about "entertainment" value.

Second, further along the lines of accuracy:
* A) There ARE dark depressing Kingdom Halls. Having previously been a JW for 25 years and
attending DOZENS of them, I can say that they do indeed exist and I have been in numerous. Not quite as bad as the movie, but close.
* B) Elders in a few other countries ARE allowed to wear beards.
* C) Students ARE often encouraged to not pursue education. Along with some of the other comments on here, I too know many JW's who sacrificed careers and education because of 1975 alone. Also, I personally was directly asked when I would quit college to pioneer. It happens plenty and is in writing in the WTS publications.
So don't downgrade this highly valuable movie on a handful of petty concepts because of supposed minor inaccuracies in here. That's like saying the whole Ferrari is weak because of the lugnuts.

No, this movie was in large part about her TRULY opening her eyes to the cult she was
seemingly (to her) trapped in and standing up for herself enough to escape. Many of us exJW's have lost it ALL (friends, parents, children, spouse, career, health, retirement, education, etc) and fought through solitude, loneliness, pressure, etc. with integrity and more courage than most people will ever have to muster. She portrays this PERFECTLY and BEAUTIFULLY. So don't downgrade this highly accurate movie just because you haven't TRULY opened your eyes or mustered your own strength to leave in your own JW cult-controlled life, or if you never have even been a JW yourself. That's unfair. This movie captures that and should be praised for how well it attended to as many details as it could while brilliantly conveying very important major concepts that went way beyond the typical "We don't celebrate birthdays" minutiae. This is about entire LIVES being changed, relationships being DESTROYED, and individuals finding FREEDOM from abusive repression and mind-control.

That being said...Please watch this movie. Everyone.

If you were a JW and went through a hard time (disfellowshipped or similar) then this movie may really touch you as it has many others and help you feel understood.

If you need to explain to someone else what it's like to be a JW and all the crazy games everyone plays in the cult, then this movie is almost certainly perfect to do so.

If you want to understand that JW's are not just some nutcases that come knock on your door and are actually humans that are caught up in a difficult life of soul-crushing conformity and mind-control, some of which is not really their fault (like if they were raised as a child in it and got wired that way), then this movie may really help you understand them and cut them some slack. It can be completely overwhelming to be a JW sometimes as perfection is expected/demanded and humans are not perfect. The pressure can be truly unbearable at times when you think your life and even those of numerous others around you may be LITERALLY decided upon based on your actions, doubts, and/or perfect conformity. And you may not have ANYONE around to share that with that will talk to you anymore. Literally look you in the eye and walk by as if you don't even exist.

The acting was truly superb by EVERYONE in the movie (no one more so than the lead Rosalinde Mynster though), as well as any other aspects of a "movie" that you expect as the awards it earned shows. I am very grateful for the time and effort they put to get it right, instead of just "close enough" while trying to make a $.

Please watch this movie and think/feel what a small percentage of the REAL people in our world actually deal with on a daily basis, sometimes for an entire lifetime. Then discuss it with others, especially people you really care about, and express your thankfulness that you have the freedom to even discuss things like that openly with each other. Promise each other that you'd never let a cult (or corporation like the Watchtower) stand between you and them and you will have so much more than many of us currently do. Thank you.

The movie was very well done. Overall it very accurately portrays what Jehovah's Witnesses do and how they think. The devastating impact of their policy of shunning those who are expelled comes through loud and clear without being oversated.

Thi movie is especually good if you were raised as a witness. It is pretty accurate, the main character is a great acctress and it was a new experience to see a representation of my life growing up in a movie.

Worlds Apart definitely is worth viewing to any who know about Jehovah's Witnesses or would like to learn a bit. It shows the turmoil a family goes through because of the religion's beliefs and their own desires to live normal lives. It shows how Witnesses are treated by their congregation elders and really really shows what they do when they have a young lady to interogate. I will not spoil it with more descriptions.

This movie is so accurate and based on a true story that your heart breaks throughout it. An adolescent from a broken Jehovah Witness family starts as a believer, as she is used to nothing else, and becomes absorbed into the real world, first love, and sees her faith through the eyes of non-believers. Throughout the film you see how strong family ties are and how difficult it was for her to break away, alone, solitary and shunned by the congregation and her beloved family. She accurately portrays the difficult choices she must make, the extreme courage and it is only through tragedy that she finally is able to make that final clean break. Up until then it was a life of lies, deceit and fear, intertwined with love and a spiritual awakening. I knew a JW and this film is extremely accurate. Education, outside friendships, relationships, are all forbidden. JW's experience a very high divorce rate and the guilt the cult puts on its members with brainwashing, doctrine and rules is perfectly portrayed, not with cruelty, but with honesty. My friend dumped me out of no where when our friendship was thriving and it hurt terribly. But now I see what turmoil and pressure she must have been going through, knowing she was breaking rules by coming to my home and never pushing her faith on me or leaving me magazines, never sending anyone else, protecting me in a sense, but eventually choosing her church over me because that was where her family, other so-called friends and social life was based. It is very tightly knit to the point where an intruder is literally considered dangerous. I found this film inspirational and brave, the acting realistic and touching, the story one of questioning, growth and courage, and the whole as being very healing to myself and anyone who has ever left JW's, thinking about it or been part of the life of someone who has had to make a choice while being a member of this cult. 10 stars, if I had the option, and a must see.

Watched this movie on youtube and it was so good I wanted to purchase it for my collection. Very realistic view of what it means to be a Jehovah's Witness as a 17 year old woman. The dialog will make you fall in love with Sara and Teis. The family dynamics will make you cry for both sides, parents and children. This is what happens when religion takes precedence over love of family. Well worth the $19!