Synopsis: Vera Farmiga’s directorial debut, Higher Ground, depicts the landscape of a tight-knit spiritual community thrown off-kilter when one of their own begins to question her faith. Inspired by Carolyn S. Briggs’ memoir, “This Dark World” , the film tells the story of a thoughtful woman’s struggles with belief, love and trust. A woman who learns that no matter how many times she loses her footing, she has within herself all that’s necessary to get to a higher place.

Review: Higher Ground is like no faith-based film I've ever seen.   This film centers around a woman looking beyond the confines of her church to understand and seek answers about her religion.  The film doesn't act as either a satire or a puff piece, but rather a very realistic idea of a fundamentalist Christian that questions many aspects of what she is taught.  The film is thought provoking and interesting, even for an atheist, such as myself.  Having been born into a very fundamentalist Christian family, my journey took me away from the religion, so a lot of what the main character here questions I can completely relate with, as well as her struggle to connect the dots between Christianity and its followers.  We definately recommend this one.

The special features on this set include: Commentary with Vera Farmiga, Joshua Leonard and Renn Hawkey, The Substance of Things Hoped For: Making Higher Ground, Production Diary, Toe Sucking, Meeting of the Men and Grave.

Interest Range: Drama