The Other Side of Heaven (2001)

Director:

Mitch Davis

Writers:

Mitch Davis (writer)
John H. Groberg (book)

Release Date:

12 April 2002 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Biography | Drama

Tagline:

An Epic Journey.

Plot:

John Groberg, a farm kid from Idaho Falls, crosses an ocean to become a missionary in the remote and exotic Tongan islands during the 1950's.

Plot Keywords:

Idaho | Missionary | Love | Mormon | 1950s

Awards:

1 win

Cast

Christopher Gorham	...	John Groberg
Anne Hathaway	...	Jean Sabin
Joe Folau	...	Feki (as Joseph Folau)
Nathaniel Lees	...	Kelepi
Miriama Smith	...	Lavania
Alvin Fitisemanu	...	Tomasi
Peter Sa'ena-Brown	...	Kuli
Whetu Fala	...	Asi
Apii McKinley	...	Noli
Paki Cherrington	...	Minister (as Te Paki Cherrington)
Jeremy Birchall	...	Edward
Ross Duncan	...	John's Father
Maggie Harper	...	John's Mother
Rick Leckinger	...	Photographer
Brian Richards	...	Crowd Member #1
Vernon Pribble	...	Crowd Member #2
Anita Schiller	...	Crowd Member #3
Norman Forsey	...	Old Sailor
John Brazier	...	Suva Boat Captain
James Vannaisingham	...	Suva Customs Officer #1
George Sabbage	...	Suva Customs Officer #2
Christian Davis	...	Suva Missionary
Tim Holt	...	Swede
Gerald R. Molen	...	President Coombs (as Jerry Molen)
Glynis Paraha	...	Postmistress (as Glynnis Paraha)
Nga Jonassen	...	Gossip #1
Lorna Nicholas	...	Gossip #2
John Paekau	...	Governor
Nancy Kareroa	...	Mele
Pua Magasiva	...	Finau
Mary Taio	...	Lita
Josia Taio	...	Lita's Father
Fofonga Taio	...	Lita's Mother
Mona Taio	...	Lita's Sister
Turara Pekepo	...	Old Man
Taua Benioni	...	Lavania's Father
Natiti Pere Eti	...	Sincere Mourner #1
Tereapii Enua	...	Sincere Mourner #2
Maria Maurangi	...	Goldtooth
Ben Daniel	...	Nuku
Sharon Brothers	...	Nuku's Mother
Tearoa Ngaro	...	Tomasi's Wife
Hula Carnahan	...	Tomasi's Daughter
Tumupu Tumupu	...	Finau's Father
Stig Eldred	...	Rich Yacht Owner
Fraley Cerutti	...	Crew Member #1
Mike Nilsen	...	Crew Member #2
Nooroa Anitonia	...	Girl's Mother #1
Ititau Mare	...	Girl's Mother #2
Vaine Wichman	...	Finau's Mother
Mata George	...	Audience Member
Ben Tuteru	...	Sione
John Sumner	...	President Stone
Louisa Teite	...	Elderly Woman
Vivian Tuteru	...	Child #3
Paula Keenan	...	Sister Stone
Sope Carnahan	...	Old Woman
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
John Barker	...	Band Singer (uncredited)
John H. Groberg	...	Wedding Photographer (uncredited)
Daniel Lucas	...	John Groberg's Younger Brother (uncredited)

Directed by
Mitch Davis

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Mitch Davis		writer
John H. Groberg		book "In the Eye of the Storm"

Produced by
Tim Coddington	....	co-producer
Mitch Davis	....	executive producer
John Garbett	....	producer
Gerald R. Molen	....	producer
Steven Ramirez	....	associate producer

Original Music by
Kevin Kiner

Cinematography by
Brian J. Breheny

Film Editing by
Steven Ramirez

Production Design by
Rick Kofoed

Set Decoration by
Michelle Davis

Costume Design by
Barbara Darragh

Makeup Department
Michael Krehl	....	key makeup artist

Production Management
Tim Coddington	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Vanessa Rare	....	second assistant director
Tony Simpson	....	first assistant director: second unit
Amand Weaver	....	trainee assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Jon Lithgow	....	art department runner
Paulo Alegria	....	graphic designer (uncredited)

Sound Department
Ray Beentjes	....	adr editor
Ray Beentjes	....	dialogue editor
Gethin Creagh	....	sound re-recording mixer
Jim Hannah	....	boom operator
Mark Hinkley	....	sound utility
Robyn McFarlane	....	foley recordist
Polly McKinnon	....	assistant sound editor
Carolyn McLaughlin	....	foley artist
Tim Prebble	....	sound designer
Mike Westgate	....	sound mixer
Dave Whitehead	....	sound effects editor

Special Effects by
Dean Clarke	....	special effects technician
Jason Durey	....	special effects supervisor
Oliver Gee	....	special effects assistant
Carl Krehl	....	special effects technician

Visual Effects by
Dave Asling	....	model shop supervisor
Steve Avoujageli	....	technical director
Dave Axford	....	visual effects production manager
Barb Benoit	....	digital compositor
Mike Borrett	....	visual effects producer
Dan Brooks	....	model builder
Joshua Chaiton	....	visual effects producer
Debora Dunphy	....	digital compositor
John Gajdecki	....	visual effects supervisor
Aruna Inversin	....	digital compositor
Christine Kowbuz	....	model builder
Sarah Norton	....	digital compositor
Christine Petrov	....	digital compositor
Kennedy Shah	....	motion control programmer
Betty Shaw	....	systems administrator: GVFX
Joel Skeete	....	lead compositor
Dan Trezise	....	digital compositor: GVFX
Martin Wilk	....	digital compositor

Stunts
Allan Poppleton	....	stunt double

Camera and Electrical Department
Brenden Holster	....	first assistant camera
Luke Thomas	....	focus puller: "a" camera
Martin Turner	....	director of photography: second unit (as Martin J.K. Turner)

Casting Department
Christina Asher	....	casting: New Zealand
Gretchen Rennell	....	casting: USA

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Jenny Rushton	....	key costume stand-by

Other crew
Troy Benjamin	....	office runner
Wynter Blathwayt	....	title designer
Birgitta Nilsson	....	assistant coordinator
Amand Weaver	....	body double
Amand Weaver	....	stand-in

Thanks
Alan Rast	....	special thanks

Production Companies

• 3Mark Entertainment
• Molen/Garbett Productions

Distributors

• Europa Filmes (2006) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Excel Entertainment
• M.I.B. (2007) (Germany) (DVD)
• Main Pictures (Portugal)
• Walt Disney Home Video (USA) (DVD)

Special Effects

• Gajdecki Visual Effects (GVFX)

Also Known As:

Eye of the Storm (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated PG for thematic elements and brief disturbing images.

Runtime:

113 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Tonga (Tonga Islands)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Malaysia:U | Singapore:PG | USA:PG

Filming Locations:

New Zealand

Company:

3Mark Entertainment

Trivia:

The real John H. Groberg as well as his wife Jean, one of his grandsons and one of his daughters with her husband can be seen at the very end during the wedding scene. As the camera pans from right to left, you can see his daughter, then her husband, then the grandson, then John is taking a picture of the couple, and his wife is next to him clapping.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: The film starts with a dance at Brigham Young University in 1953. A couple sing the song "Rip it Up". That song was first recorded by Little Richard in 1956.

Quotes:

[an island girl tries to seduce John]
John Groberg: This would never happen in Idaho!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Film Geek (2005)

Soundtrack:

The Lone Ranger

Nice story, limited audience

I really did enjoy this film, although it is certainly no cinematic masterpiece, however I do think it would be of fairly limited appeal to a non-Mormon audience. It is a fairly slow and simple story, done fairly simplistically, but not without its charms. To really appreciate it I suspect one would need to have some background knowledge of the key elements of the movie. I was certainly surprised to see it as a Disney movie and was mortified to see other posters suggesting that the advertising for the film was less than forthcoming on the true nature of the storyline. For what it is, its very entertaining and uplifting, but I would strongly suspect that this film will not appeal to a wide audience. My Vote 7/10 (although I unashamedly admit my own bias)