Watch Higher Ground

Higher Ground is a 2011 drama film directed by and starring Vera Farmiga, along with Joshua Leonard and Dagmara Dominczyk. The movie is based on a memoir by Carolyn S. Briggs, titled This Dark World: A Memoir of Salvation Found and Lost. The film revolves around the life of Corinne Walker (played by Vera Farmiga), a young woman who is struggling with the expectations and confines of her religious community. She is married to her high school sweetheart, Ethan (played by Joshua Leonard), whom she met at a Bible camp when she was a teenager. Together they have a daughter and are part of a tight-knit group of evangelical Christians who live in a rural community.

Corinne is devout in her faith and has a close bond with God, but she is also grappling with doubts and questions about her beliefs. She is haunted by memories of a traumatic event from her childhood, which has left her feeling disconnected from those around her. In an effort to find answers, Corinne immerses herself in the religious community and becomes increasingly involved in Bible study and church activities.

As Corinne becomes more entrenched in the church community, however, she begins to feel suffocated by its rigid beliefs and practices. She witnesses the hypocrisy and judgement that exist within the community and struggles to reconcile her faith with the realities of life. She starts to question whether she truly belongs in this world or whether she should seek out a different path.

Along the way, Corinne forms close relationships with several other women from the church, including Annika (played by Dagmara Dominczyk), her closest friend and confidant. Annika is also struggling with her faith and the expectations placed upon her by the church, but she finds solace in her friendship with Corinne.

Higher Ground is a powerful and thought-provoking film that explores the complexities of faith, doubt, and identity. It offers an intimate look at the inner workings of a religious community and the struggles faced by those who seek to reconcile their beliefs with the world around them.

Vera Farmiga delivers a nuanced and heartfelt performance as Corinne, capturing the character's inner turmoil and questioning with sensitivity and depth. Joshua Leonard is equally strong as Ethan, Corinne's well-meaning but somewhat clueless husband. And Dagmara Dominczyk shines as Annika, bringing a warmth and humanity to the character that makes her a standout in the film.

One of the film's strengths is its avoidance of easy answers or moral judgments. It presents the world of the evangelical Christian community with honesty and compassion, acknowledging both its strengths and its flaws. It also allows space for the characters to grapple with their beliefs and questions in their own way, without imposing a predetermined agenda or message.

Overall, Higher Ground is a moving and insightful film that explores timeless themes of faith, doubt, and belonging. It offers a rich and nuanced portrayal of a religious community and the individuals within it, and will undoubtedly leave viewers with much to ponder long after the credits roll.

Higher Ground is a 2011 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 54 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.2 and a MetaScore of 74.