‘Dear John’ means more coming from Idaho
A new film about life and cultural change follows the experiences of an Idaho farm boy in Tonga.
The Other Side of Heaven tells the story of Elder John Groberg, a General Authority for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, during his mission in Tonga in the 1950s.
First-time writer/director Mitch Davis said the story for the film has a lot of meaning.
“The story is deep and often poignant. It is a classic fish out of water story where a boy is forced to sink or swim,” Davis said.
According to a release from Excel Entertainment Group, the story for the film is based on the published memoirs of Groberg titled In the Eye of the Storm.
The release said Davis, a Brigham Young University graduate, went on to film school at USC Film School to study directing. After completing his degree he was hired to work by the Walt Disney Company.
The film tells of the experiences of a young Idaho farm boy (Groberg), played by Christopher Gorham, who is taken out of his element and called to serve as a missionary on an island in the South Pacific.
To serve his mission, he left behind his family and true love of his life, Jean Sabin, played by Anne Hathaway (The Princess Diaries). Through letters shared with each other, John writes about his extraordinary adventures in Tonga while she helps buoy up his spirits during the difficult times.
Davis said the story is especially interesting because Groberg had some unusual experiences as a missionary.
“[Elder Groberg’s] wasn’t a normal mission of knocking on doors,” he said. “He had to cross an ocean in an open boat, survived hurricanes, build his own hut and have many other amazing experiences.”
Groberg said he is pleased with the way the movie turned out although he was apprehensive at first to let them make the film.
“Our first reaction when they asked to buy the movie rights to the book was ‘No way,'” he said.
Groberg said he and his wife didn’t want their lives on the big screen for everyone to see.
“As we met with the director and producer though, we found out they were good, honest people with a real vision,” he said.
Groberg said he thought the production staff did a great job at portraying he and his wife, but after seeing the film his wife jokingly told him he wasn’t as good of a dancer as the character in the film.
Although it is premiering primarily in Utah, The Other Side of Heaven is not necessarily geared toward audiences associated with The Church of Jesus Christ.
Anybody will be able to relate to the story, Groberg said.
According to the release, Davis wanted to tell the story of a missionary experience since he himself served a mission in Argentina.
“I never quite found a vehicle I thought would work for the general public until John Garbett and another friend both recommended I read this book by Elder John Groberg. About 30 pages in, I realized that there was a beautiful tale there – lots of broad adventures, a beautiful romance and an experience in a foreign land that was unique, yet universal,” Davis said.
Groberg said the film does a great job of helping someone understand another culture.
“By the time you get through watching the movie, you will fall in love with the Polynesian people just like I did,” he said.
Davis said a primary element of the film is allowing others to see another culture in a new light.
“The book was full of colorful, unforgettable characters and I wanted the same for the movie,” Davis said. “The Polynesians are wonderful people.”
The Other Side of Heaven was produced by Gerald R. Molen (Schindler’s List, Jurassic Park) and John Garbett (Shrek, Father of the Bride).
It will open in two locations in Salt Lake City on Dec. 14. It will be showing in more than 50 locations in Utah and Idaho by Dec. 21. The film is scheduled to be showing in theaters in Hawaii, Arizona, Nevada and California by January.