MovieChat Forums > The Other Side of Heaven (2002) Discussion > Totally offensive and imperialist

Totally offensive and imperialist

posted 14 years ago by Bantom
8 replies | jump to latest

This movie was imperialist propaganda and fodder for one religious movement in particular. It portrayed locals as 'primitive savages' who needed to be 'civilised' and shown 'the right path' by the invading missionaries.

I love movies that document a story within it's historical/social setting etc (e.g. the 1950s when racism and as more mainstream and accepted); but the problem with THIS movie was it still promoted this imperialist and eurocentric opinion of 'civilising the savages'...oozing with social Darwinism. It shouldn't suprise me seeming though it was a Disney movie, but nevertheless: I thought we had moved on from this way of thinking.

Disgusting.

[–] musikbox83 13 years ago

Considering the story was written by a Mormon missionary, that point of view is not very surprising. I certainly don't agree with it, but I can understand where they're coming from. Plenty of religions still send missionaries to "remote" parts of the world to "save the heathens".

[–] dino-141 9 years ago

On the contrary.
First of all, Mormons consider the Polynesians descendants of the tribe of Joseph and feel an obligation to offer them the Book of Mormon, since it was written to them first.
Secondly Mormons send their missionaries everywhere. A friend of mine - she is from Austria - even served in Utah. Believe it or not.

[–] sendtothisone 13 years ago

I guess I didn't see it as imperialist because the only thing the protagonist sought to change was the denomination of Christianity to which the people belonged (Forgive me if I am making an incorrect assumption, but I thought Tonga was a basically Christian nation at this point in time). He did not try to teach them English, but instead learned their language. I didn't think he tried to change their way of thinking/life anymore than any cocky nineteen year old kid inexperienced with culture clash would. So while you may see the film as offensive, I guess I just saw it as one man's personal experience. I don't think it had any grand schemes (except maybe to expose the viewer to a Mormon story).

As for trying to "save the heathens:" To Mormons, everybody's a heathen, no matter the country or clime. That's why their missionaries are everywhere you turn ;)

[–] topherwriter 13 years ago

This needs input from an actual returned missionary who actually knows how it is. The reason there are missionaries is because there is a message that they want to share that has blessed their lives, and they want to bless the lives of others. When a missionary teaches it isn't necessarily "learn this and get baptized or you're going to hell," it is "we want you to accept this message so that you can have the same happiness that I have with this message." Of course there are plenty of people who do not accept the message because they don't believe in it, and that is fine, everyone has their choice on what to believe. It's not about taming the savages, it is about giving them something that can really make them happier if they accept it.

There are many people who will probably lash out and be like "Oh you are so chained to your rules, how is that happiness?" Well, I think the fact that we have boundaries increases our happiness. Let's take the strict health code that we have. Because I have always been taught to not drink alcohol, I have never had to worry about the problems that it brings if I ever would choose to abuse it. True people don't usually abuse it, but there is still a chance of abusing it, and because I have never had that in my life, I never took that chance. In the end, I feel more free because I obey these rules.

I am not asking that you agree with my religious beliefs, I only ask that you be tolerant. There are Mormons everywhere, we hold strong to our beliefs and we have our reasons for believing it. This is why it is pretty offensive to us for people to bag on it. They are different, but all we ask is for respect.

[–] bytebear 12 years ago

I suppose the alternative is to leave them in their primitive state and when the next hurricane comes or malaria outbreak hits, we just let half the population die.

[–] willjohn 12 years ago

That is pretty ignorant. Tongans got on with their lives as fishermen and farmers successfully before Europeans went there in the 18th century.

[–] anniemckitty 11 years ago

In regards to the original post, I didn't think so. I don't particularly agree with the idea of missionaries going out to convert the natives but I think this film portrayed this missionary as a humble man who respected the Tongans learned as much from the people he ministered to as they learned from him. It seemed very mutual to me.

[–] dino-141 9 years ago

Well if you think this movie is imperialist, never, ever watch CNN.