The Other Side of Heaven (2001) Parents Guide: Is the movie OK for kids?
Age Rating, Sex, Violence & Language
John H. Groberg, a middle class kid from Idaho Falls, crosses the Pacific to become a Mormon missionary in the remote and exotic Tongan island kingdom during the 1950's. He leaves behind a loving family and the true love of his life, Jean. Through letters and musings across the miles, John shares his humbling and sometimes hilarious adventures with "the girl back home", and her letters buoy up his spirits in difficult times. John must struggle to overcome language barriers, physical hardship and deep-rooted suspicion to earn the… Sign up for the full guide
Rated PG • 2001 • 1h 53m
The Other Side of Heaven is rated PG primarily for its thematic elements and intense scenes of peril. The film follows missionary John Groberg's experiences in 1950s Tonga, and the rating reflects the depiction of significant hardship, including a destructive typhoon, subsequent starvation, and characters being lost at sea. Viewers can also expect brief, non-graphic violence and a scene of attempted seduction with implied nudity. While… Sign up for the full guide
Cast
Is The Other Side of Heaven appropriate for kids?
The Other Side of Heaven is rated PG primarily for its thematic elements and intense scenes of peril. The film follows missionary John Groberg's experiences in 1950s Tonga, and the rating reflects the depiction of significant hardship, including a destructive typhoon, subsequent… Read more — free account
Content severity in The Other Side of Heaven
What happens in The Other Side of Heaven, moment by moment
- 0:15 🔥 Mature Themes 3/10
- 0:24 🍷 Substances 2/10
- 0:31 ⚔ Violence & Gore 4/10
Sex and nudity in The Other Side of Heaven
Sexual content is mild. In one scene, a young woman attempts to seduce the missionary; she removes her skirt (bare legs are shown) and lowers her dress straps, but he firmly refuses her advances before any nudity occurs. There is also a frank but non-explicit conversation about remaining chaste for marriage, using the term 'seed'. Another scene briefly implies girls are being taken away for the purpose of prostitution.
Violence and gore in The Other Side of Heaven
Violence is moderate and mostly involves peril from nature. Characters endure a destructive typhoon that destroys their village and later a severe storm at sea that washes a man overboard. One tense scene involves men being sent to attack the missionaries, but the assault is stopped before it begins. A character's feet are shown bloody after being bitten by rats in his sleep.
Language in The Other Side of Heaven
There is no profanity in the film.
Drugs, alcohol, and smoking in The Other Side of Heaven
Substance use is light. One local character is shown to be a drunk in several scenes, staggering and slurring his speech. As part of their conversion, the missionaries teach the Tongan people that they should no longer drink alcohol.
Mature themes in The Other Side of Heaven
The film explores moderate themes of faith, hardship, and perseverance. Characters face life-threatening situations, including near-death from starvation and dehydration following a natural disaster. The death of a character who sacrifices his own food is a key emotional moment. The film also deals with themes of loneliness, cultural clashes, and dedication to one's beliefs.
Scary moments in The Other Side of Heaven
No standout scary moments have been catalogued for The Other Side of Heaven yet. Because this title is recommended for younger kids, sign up to get community-flagged jump scares, tense scenes, and startling imagery as parents submit them.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is The Other Side of Heaven appropriate for kids?
Bontent's parent guide suggests The Other Side of Heaven is best for ages 10+. It's rated PG. The Other Side of Heaven is rated PG primarily for its thematic elements and intense scenes of peril. The film follows missionary John Groberg's experiences in 1950s Tonga, and the rating reflects the depiction of…
What age rating does The Other Side of Heaven have?
The Other Side of Heaven is officially rated PG. Bontent's independent parent guide recommends it for ages 10+.
What is The Other Side of Heaven about?
The Other Side of Heaven is rated PG primarily for its thematic elements and intense scenes of peril. The film follows missionary John Groberg's experiences in 1950s Tonga, and the rating reflects the depiction of significant hardship, including a destructive typhoon, subsequent starvation, and characters being lost…
Is there sex or nudity in The Other Side of Heaven?
Sexual content is mild. In one scene, a young woman attempts to seduce the missionary; she removes her skirt (bare legs are shown) and lowers her dress straps, but he firmly refuses her advances before any nudity occurs. There is also a frank but non-explicit…
How violent is The Other Side of Heaven?
Violence is moderate and mostly involves peril from nature. Characters endure a destructive typhoon that destroys their village and later a severe storm at sea that washes a man overboard. One tense scene involves men being sent to attack the missionaries…
Is the language in The Other Side of Heaven appropriate for kids?
There is no profanity in the film.
Are drugs, alcohol, or smoking shown in The Other Side of Heaven?
Substance use is light. One local character is shown to be a drunk in several scenes, staggering and slurring his speech. As part of their conversion, the missionaries teach the Tongan people that they should no longer drink alcohol.
What mature themes appear in The Other Side of Heaven?
The film explores moderate themes of faith, hardship, and perseverance. Characters face life-threatening situations, including near-death from starvation and dehydration following a natural disaster. The death of a character who sacrifices his own food is a…
How long is The Other Side of Heaven?
The Other Side of Heaven runs 113 minutes, directed by Mitch Davis, released in 2001.
Where can I read the full The Other Side of Heaven parent guide?
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