by Caresa Alexander Randall | The film stars Gorham as Elder Groberg and New Zealand actress Natalie Medlock as his wife Jean. The new trailer introduces New Zealand actor Russell Dixon as then-Elder Thomas S. Monson who was assigned to the South Pacific region when Elder Groberg served as mission president of the area (YouTube).
PG-13 | 1h 50min | Drama | 28 June 2019 (USA). The film has been rated PG-13 for “thematic elements.”
This is an intimate look at the Groberg family as Elder John H. Groberg, portrayed by Christopher Gorham, receives a letter from Salt Lake City — presumably an assignment to serve as mission president in Tonga for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
The Other Side of Heaven 2: Fire of Faith trailer
The film stars Gorham as Elder Groberg and New Zealand actress Natalie Medlock as his wife Jean. The Other Side of Heaven 2: Fire of Faith continues the epic true saga of Elder John H. Groberg’s missionary adventures in Tonga as depicted in the eponymous Disney-distributed hit film of 2001. Whereas the original movie detailed Elder Groberg’s first mission to Tonga in the 1950’s as a 19 year-old bachelor, the sequel tells the inspiring true story of his return to Tonga in the 1960’s with his wife and five young daughters to serve as President of the Tonga-Fiji Mission.
Shortly after arriving in Tonga, John’s wife, Jean, becomes pregnant with their sixth child, a boy who is born with a serious illness that threatens to end his tiny young life. In fact, the boy is born too weak to be evacuated to another country with medical care sufficient to properly diagnose and treat him.
With their child’s life on the line, John and Jean face the ultimate trial of their faith only to find themselves enfolded in the love and prayers of thousands of Tongans of various religions who unite in a nationwide fast for the health of their little boy. Barriers of inter-religious strife are broken down as all unite in hopes of a miracle that will save the Groberg baby boy’s life, as well as that of the son of a non-Mormon Tongan minister who has been beaten within inches of death.
The Other Side of Heaven came out in 2001 and starred Gorham and Anne Hathaway as Jean. Both movies are directed and produced by Mitch Davis, who began his quest to produce a film about the Latter-day Saint missionary experience more than 40 years ago.
The Other Side of Heaven 2: Fire of Faith opens nationwide on June 28.
Caresa Randall is the editorial assistant for the Arts and Entertainment department of Deseret News. She has a bachelor’s degree from Utah State University and began her career in journalism as an intern for the Church News and Features and Mormon Times departments. Caresa served a mission in New Jersey for the LDS Church where she gained a fondness for Taylor ham, egg and cheese sandwiches, Slurpees and listening to people share their life stories. Caresa enjoys traveling, ’80s music, playing the piano, skiing (water and snow), photography, and taekwondo. She lives in the Salt Lake area with her husband and their little dog, Toby. Connect with Caresa Alexander Randall via Desert News or Email at crandall@deseretnews.com
