First, I don't know much about Danish films so I don't recognize the actors and actresses who do a first rate job in performing their roles. The film is about Sara Dahl, a Danish 17 year old Jehovah's Witness. The film begins with the baptism of her and her best friend, Thea. Sara is more dedicated and devout than Thea at times. When Sara meets Teis at a club, their relationship begins slowly to evolve more than a friendship. It's actually realistic that they don't move fast. Jehovah's Witnesses especially the single girls like Sara and Thea don't date at all and especially outside the sect. Teis takes an interest in the religion. When things don't go as planned, Sara makes difficult choices that can ruin her family. This film is based on Tabitha's Story which is probably true. While Sara is played beautifully by the actress as a sympathetic, complicated, young woman who must make serious decisions even without the back up of her family. This film is worth watching even with subtitles.

My sentiments resemble that of staryfifi. Any director should consult people of the faith, that aren't bitter/scorn if looking for real accuracy. Fornication and adultery are wrong no matter what faith you belong to because the bible, God's word says that. Any avid Bible Reader remembers the priest who allowed his sons to commit fornication in the temple. He lost his life because he condoned wrongdoing. I have many friends who chose to do what they wanted and instead of carrying on a facade, lying (adding more sins to the mix), they just went to the brothers and disassociated themselves. If that's what a person chooses to do, no one stops them. Major inaccuracies: 1) Elders don't hunt people down, if they happen to see them or make a shepherding call and know they are having problems, they try to encourage them to seek help, disfellowshipping is a LAST resort, they are in the business of helping not hurting. 2) There is no leader, they are bodies that are all in agreement on various things & meet in committees to make decisions 3) We are educated people. The world headquarters has doctors, lawyers, nurses, electricians, engineers, etc. I have 2 degrees that I pursued while I participated in the ministry regularly and worked full-time. I am not alone, there are many like me, some doctors and teachers. 4)People are not told they will die, they are encouraged to follow a course that will 'ensure' they remain in God's memory. Only God can read hearts & can condemn or excuse a person. Ultimately he will choose. As humans, that is not our place. Any person that wants to sin and not answer to God for anything, is truly selfish and will not really be happy.

A rather well-documented drama, presenting the closed society of the Jehovah's Witnesses. It shows that "something" that they don't tell you when they knock on your door, but this is not a hateful film. The main character, a young girl, is trapped between the love for her unbeliever boyfriend and the love for her JW-family. In the Jehovah's witnesses world, these two are mutually-exclusive.The only reason I'm giving this picture just 9 stars is because 10 are for the titans of the genre, like "Schindler's list" or "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest". But these 9 stars are well deserved in my opinion.

Last time I reviewed a danish production, I got spit out and bit in the tail for stepping on danish toes. Drømmen was supposedly Arden Oplev's masterpiece but however I tried, I didn't get it. Not one bit of it.This time (and fate is sweet and relentless), unknowingly, I thoroughly enjoyed a danish masterpiece: To Verdener, same director and writer! And honestly, I watched it twice and I can't find any flaws in it. It's brilliant. The acting is so sincere, the story so well told, the movie's pace forces you to keep watching, music is original, and the plot very well unfolded.A girl, raised as a Jehova's Witness, is forced into a devils dilemma when she falls for a charming older boy - a "non-witness", so there's bound to be trouble. This theme, very accurately portrayed and far from original, is very actual nowadays when so many people abandon their Christian roots, tempted by modern days' lusts and attractions, shopping, the net, sexuality, individuality and 'follow your dream' zeitgeist.Not only makes Rosalinde Mynster this story believable, she acts it out so well, there must have been bucket loads of chemistry on the set. From the Elder John to the young sister Elisabeth (another danish acting wonder Sarah Juel Werner) - all characters are real, fully developed and utterly believable. The biggest surprise for me though, frankly, was Pilou Asbæk, in his role as Teis, Sara's new found love. What a charm, what charisma, and what talent. His character goes through lengths as much as even volunteering to join the Witnesses, thus reaching out for Sara and share her burden.Sara, in the end, makes a far from diminutive choice, a choice for a worldly life - eventually even breaking all attachments; her family, her boyfriend and ultimately, Jehova.The end dialog with her father is so pivotal and to the point, it should end up in cinema history books. Won't spoil it all for you - but it's pure excellence.The best thing this movie achieves, is it never judges. There's no "good" or "bad" when it comes to religion. The Jehova's are portrayed unbiased, not overly sympathized, not threatening. Every decision Sara and her family have to make is difficult, complex. Yet it's far from depressing. In fact all in all this ends up to be a very positive movie.Life has changed, life goes on. We all choose what we think is good for us.Well to sum it up. Grand movie, very well acted, and gives food for thought big time. Give it 9 out of 10.