HIGHER GROUND Review
Rarely has an individual's quest for spiritual understanding been dealt with in as warm, open, and non-judgmental a manner as Higher Ground, the directorial debut of Vera Farmiga. The film revolves around the spiritual journey of Corinne, played by Farmiga as an adult and by her sister Taissa Farmiga as a younger woman.
Corinne is not especially religious as the story begins. Certainly she is respectful towards spirituality, but she's not especially devout. She's the curious type who is inclined to check out "Lord of the Flies" from the public library in the small town where she lives. Moved by a lovely sermon given one day by kindly Pastor Bud (Bill Irwin), Corinne finds herself declaring her faith. It's not so much a conscious decision as one that she appears compelled to make.
For Corinne, an intimate relationship with God is like an arranged marriage: It requires years to develop and is filled with trials and tribulations, hardship and heartbreak. As a teenager, her faith is constantly tested. She's an eyewitness to the troubled marriage of her religious mother (Donna Murphy) and father (John Hawkes). She falls into a dreamy courtship with a dreamy boy (Boyd Holbrook), which leads to sex, which leads to pregnancy, which leads to marriage. Corinne veers further off her spiritual path with new friends, leading to an incident that serves as a crossroads for her.
Over time her faith grows and becomes an indelible aspect of her personality. Her religious beliefs shape her thoughts and words and actions; she takes God into account in everything she does. She raises her family with a firm faith, makes love to her husband (Joshua Leonard) in accordance with Scripture, conducts herself as a woman in harmony with her beliefs.
Then doubts begin to creep in, first as crickets that chirp in the night, and eventually as a swarm of locusts, attacking and undermining Corinne's arranged marriage with God.
Based on a memoir by Carolyn S. Briggs, who co-wrote the screenplay with Tim Metcalfe, Higher Ground is principally a dramatic character study, the rise and fall of a woman's faith, if you will. Yet it's speckled with disarming comedy, especially after Corinne becomes friends with Annika (Dagmara Dominczyk), a fellow believer who happens to be a bawdy woman, inclined to speak frankly about sexual matters.
As a first-time director, Farmiga doesn't call attention to herself, keeping the focus on the story and the characters. As an actress, she gives another very good performance, and is surrounded by a very strong cast, excellent from top to bottom. Special mention goes to Taissa Farmiga, a teenager playing her first role to exquisite near-perfection under the direction of her older sister.
Higher Ground won't change anyone's mind about religion and spirituality. It doesn't proselytize, but neither does it mock. More than anything else, Higher Ground is a movie that questions religious faith while never doubting the importance of spiritual belief.
Higher Ground expands into select markets in the U.S. today. Check official site for more information.
