If you truly love bad movies, you should not let another day go by without seeing The Other Side of Heaven.
This is the story of a young Mormon guy in the 1950s who is sent to do his mandatory missionary work in Tonga. It is not a new movie, but it has never received enough attention to bring it into its rightful place in the Hall of Truly Horrid Cinema Fame.
The people in Tonga can't pronounce his name so they call him Kolipoki or Pokiloki or something, and he is given a Faithful Brown Companion to be his "helper".
FBC wears a sulu with a white LDS standard issue short sleeved polycotton shirt and clip-on tie and takes care of his beloved Kolipoki when he goes to sit on the beach for 4 days without eating or sleeping and miraculously learns the local language by reading the Bible in it repeatedly before collapsing. It is almost as moving as the scene where he has to explain to a simple childlike native woman that his Mormonhood will not permit him to share his seed so that the tribe can be honored by a pale beige baby.
FBC runs interference with the infidel Tongan Methodists who tempt their brothers from the True Path, and no one is more concerned when Kolipoki foolishly goes to sleep with his feet exposed and rats eat his soles. Only his faith heals him enough to walk again, and when food runs short the simple childlike Methodist minister finally sees at least part of the light and gives Kolipoki his piece of coconut, because he is young and has come so far.
When Kolipoki's sentence is up, he gets a big promotion while his Faithful Brown Companion is sent back to the labor crew to build leaf and stick churches for all the converts Kolipoki will bring to the bosom of Nephi, and while there is a suggestion of sadness, of course they both realize this is how it has to be.
If you think this sounds racist, it is, and that it is not intended to be racist makes it even more so, and more hilarious.
Interspersed throughout the whole movie are Kolipoki's ultra-chaste fantasies about his sweetheart for whom he is saving his seed, played by Anne Hathaway in a white dress flitting and blinking at the camera from various beautiful natural environments.
Do not eat while watching The Other Side of Heaven. You will spit food.
Article comments
1 - Eric Olsen
it certainly does not appear to shed a kind light on rats: racist and speciesist too! Thanks and welcome.
2 - Girardins
I was sort of relieved to finally see a movie about a real person which didn't involve sex, violence, language or cartoons. But just call me old fashioned.
3 - Uwe Faber
What a nice, inspiring and uplifting movie. Really made my evening and showed me that there is much more to aspire to than money and career...
4 - Talita Wiener-Osman
Great movie. Clean, inspiring, and well done!
5 - miguel
the movie is really pure, and well done
6 - Nephi
This movie we love. Children will especially appreciate it. We have it, and watch it at least once a month if not more.
7 - sanman
this is the best movie i seen in my entire life
8 - siul man
A very uplifting movie, that show us what the human spirit can accomplish when possessed by a great aspiration
9 - Morôni
This is a great movie that shows the love for the people.
10 - Heather
I am not a LDS, and, although formulaic, I found this movie refreshing and uplifting. Watch it for the scenery alone (filmed in Cook Islands). Stunning photography!
Regardless of your review, if your heart is open to God and the message of love and family, you will like this movie.
I did.
11 - Tessia
This movie is amazing it changed my life and the way i see tornadoes. It is a merikal, god has truly blessed me. Tess and friends
12 - Bizzo
I like the movie very much. The beginning is quite slow but it is i suppose for many movies and books. Once he arrived the movie get better and better.
I don't know why the author of the critic said that is a bad film. Perhaps he doesn't like religion very much. By the way if it was so bad, probably he never would read it till the end, isn't it?
13 - mel
i realy like the other side of heaven .and i think
its a good clean movie.
14 - mel
i think every body should see the other side of heaven its uplifting happy sad . the movie will make you feel good . i watch the movie all the time.
15 - mel
it is a uplifting movie. it`s once you seen it you have to watch it over and over.
16 - Carol
I really like this movie
Thanks for u who make this movie,
Gbu all
17 - Hoffman's
This was not a block buster but it is a cute family movie, no swearing or sex or violence; amazing in itself.
This movie does teach something about perseverance, over coming obstacles and exercising faith.
18 - joe
I thought this movie was dumb
19 - Steve
What a crass review. I loved the movie. It was refreshing.
20 - rosa anglica
esta pelicula, la debes de ver ya que solo asi comprenderas lo maravilloso del cine limpio y sin cosas grotescas o sexuales, se la recomiendo a todo mundo, veanla con la familia, los edificar y acercar a Dios, saludos desde Mxico
21 - jordan
it sounds to me like you hate the Mormon church and not the movie. the movie was simple and nice and TOTALLY not as you described
22 - Lauro from Brazil
The movie is very great and inspired me to be a better person and see the most important things of life. I recomend to everyone appreciates good virtues