superb

this is a superb film. 'The Other Side of Heaven' is based on the true story, of John H. Groberg's experience as a missionary, on the South Pacific island of Tonga.

John Groberg, was called by the Church, for a three-year mission assignment to Tonga, when he was a 20-year-old student at Brigham Young University in the 1950's.

Before leaving he makes a vague pact with his girlfriend, Jean.

A difficult seven week journey takes him to the South Pacific, where he meets his native Christian assistant and companion, Feki, and they finally arrive at the remote island of Niuatoputapu. Groberg has been instructed to do two things: learn the language and build the 'kingdom.'

Initially treated with scorn by the natives, he sets about to learn the language, by reading the bible in both English and in Polynesian.

After four days he has mastered the language, and begins to win the respect of the natives. From here on, it's a series of incidents, each of which is a sort of independent story: he resuscitates a seriously injured child; when he is sleeping with his feet exposed, this leads to rats nibbling on the soles of his feet, requiring weeks of treatment to 'seal' his feet; a boat trip with two natives nearly drowns them all, when the boat is capsized by a storm; a severe storm destroys the island food supply, and everyone nearly starves to death.

The young native women are fascinated with Groberg, and one in particular offers herself to him. Groberg is not tempted. He is finally taken to task by the girl's mother for rejecting the daughter, but Groberg explains his moral view, and his commitment to his true love in the U.S.

His experiences and his feelings are also conveyed through a series of letters to Jean, his fantasies about her, and her letters to him. They ultimately marry, in the movie and in real life, and return many times for missionary work in the South Pacific.

well worth watching.