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HIS WILL NOT OURS HIGHER GROUND (R) Religion and cinema rarely mix well, particularly when it comes to representations of Christianity. Recent American movies tend to either envision Jesus Christ as a quasi superhero (The Passion of the Christ anyone?) or offer up simplistic morality tales supporting one's belief with little to no conflict, such as the preaching-to-the-choir products of Alex Kendrick and the Sherwood Baptist Church (Fireproof, Courageous). More prominent still is the trope of portraying Christians as close-minded bigots, easy targets designed to comfort the non-believing audi ence. You want spiritual complexity? Stick with Michael Totkin's The Rapture or Malick's The Tree of Life instead. In actress Vera Farmiga's directorial debut, Higher Ground. the issue of faith in the modern world is taken seriously, though the film also offers up a surprising amount of humor and warmth. Loosely based on Carolyn S. Briggs' book, This Dark World: A Memoir of Salvation Found and Lost, the movie examines the life of Corinne Briggs (Vera Farmiga) as she enthusiastically embraces fundamental ist "Jesus Freak" Christianity in the hippie- drenched 1970s with her husband, Ethan (Joshua Leonard), a failed aspiring rock musi cian. In high school, Corinne (played during these scenes by Taissa Farmiga) is a sensitive student who dreams of becoming a writer, but after a traumatic incident while accompanying Ethan's band on the road, the young couple devote their lives to religion. At first, life with Jesus in Corinne’s heart is a profound experi ence, though she eventually struggles with doubt when tragedy strikes a close friend and hardships in her marriage escalate. Eventually, she becomes spiritually unmoored. For a first-time director, Farmiga is assured and unfussy, allowing scenes to play out with a refreshing natural ness. She's also gener ous with her fellow actors, giving them ample opportunities to shine, even when she's the focus. John Hawkes gives another sturdy performance as Corinne's father, and Dagmara Dominczyk infuses the movie with a fleshy solidity. Farmiga's performance, however, is the real pulse of the picture, empathetically depicting a woman wrestling with an inner turmoil that is simultaneously moving and multifaceted. There are missteps along the way—the dream sequences feel forced and there are moments of symbolic heavy-handedness—but Higher Ground is a leap worth savoring. Derek Hill Vera Farmiga REAL 5TEEL » FUClCSlCINNY * 3m w!> rLIClCStCINNT.COM V\ck>) iMcbX ejAjOjAcc! JteSf&rote o* Robo-K GwaW\W3 \0S5e5, a tAocQ' Si/AOSensMeof bu <sWfA. v SocRobots' 1 Mo») Cwftete) I'd Uk -b \v Q*A \a wXW £loc< / ^ Pith a Mooio piVcV\^ ■ ^ X vAe sAa/-V by SflytVuj G\\'A'V A laV-Ovt* *^> (^£^1 SVeeA" *Ll£tto \toaaA3r 9«1iw « ^ SW" lvk1k+, v\(s loss, V at its 7*’ £+SCW&>u aw) Ciicke, bob^ tot a (ZcaZoo, tWij .TAs W/z) bo ge4 GiogWV up io"P\tev^> n J^erdcg w ' IQ Uc<\iy ,\V Ms ’’AW*"La boil. . ^ 7 / \F«S 'jooof JSteefiY^ h whv 0 Southern ^=Waterbeds ^ ** 1975 BEAN BAGS • FUTONS • MATTRESSES PLATFORM BEDS • KIDS' LOFTS BUNKBEDS / WATERBEDS UGA Decor & More Open 6 Days 10-7 • 706.543.4323 Across from Georgia Square Mall southernwaterbeds.com ViVA*! 1170 Barnett Shoals Rd • 706-850-8184 cnzum HAND ROLICD EMPANADAS ARGENTINE CHEESESTEAK HAND-CUT GRILLED STEAKS WITH CH1MKHURR1 GABY'S ATOMIC CUPCAKES & MORE! CATERING AVAIIABIE! ACCIRTTNO ORDIRS FOR FOOD AMD CUPCAKIS Tue-Wed I lam 9pm • Thu-Sat 11 am-1 Opm Sunday 11 am-9pm • Closed Mondays DeUvtry Available Through orderbuttdawgfood.com IpE HAPPY HOUR M-F 2-8 S 1 PBR & HIGH LIFE s 2 DOMESTIC BOTTLES s 3 CALL SHOTS imiiYtf 21»IP W/VALID U) ★ ★ ★ BEATS RHTMES &LiFE rm TMVf is er | pri m&) LSrU aTRIBE CALLED QUEST ■ ■ teemt aT:*^ ■■ -»- Tl I I tmi* I ■*“?•!• WWW.ATHENSCINE.COM 706.353.3343 234 W. HANCOCK AVE DOWNTOWN ATHENS , Vr fniBkY 7-M* ) /# *r sjs/nisM / s,s rr* « 788-jss- 31 *' ^•W.fiOODOWT**' BEGIMMEHS WElCOMil MJHMltl TflMIIY TRY Cl AY Hand-Building Workshop FVERY SUNDAY 2-4pm - fun For All Ages! MEXICAN RESTAURANT 100% Authentic MexiGHi and Aw Semog CaWorw Style American Food BREAKFAST ALL DAT. HAMBURGERS • SANDWICHES • SAWD • Acupulco Omelet $6.50 Chorlzo. onions, mushrooms, cheese, topped with guacamole, with rice & beans Steak Sandwich $9.50 New York steak with lettuce, onion, mayo & avacado on a French roll with French fries Camarones Rancheros $7.50 Shrimp with ranchero sauce & cheese, guacamole & sour cream, with rice & beans 110% OFF for STUDENT with ID I 400 Hawthorne Ave. Ste 12 • 706-353-8557 OCTOBER 12,2011 FLAGPOLE.COM 13
