Apparent ambivalence of 'Higher Ground' suits its complex subject

R (strong language, sexual content); 109 min.

Vera Farmiga's debut as a film director tells the story of a woman's spiritual life from her teen years through the early dawn of middle age, a journey in which she becomes a believer and associates with believers but keeps listening for the voice of God and hearing nothing.

Higher Ground shines a light on an important aspect of the human experience, one not often explored on screen, and contains a number of notable performances -- not the least of which is from Farmiga in the central role. The film was a hit at Sundance, and deservedly so.

The movie has also been praised for its balanced presentation of the religious life, and Farmiga herself has done a number of interviews talking about how she had no desire to skew the film in either a pro- or anti-religion way. Yet the point of view of the film is skewed, just by virtue of the story, which is adapted from This Dark World: A Memoir of Salvation Found and Lost, Carolyn S. Briggs' memoir of her path into and ultimately out of evangelical Christianity.

The problem here is subtle, and therefore must be stated bluntly. The problem is not the point of view. An equally good movie could be made endorsing organized religion instead of rejecting it. The problem is that the story, as constituted, is of necessity against organized religion, but Farmiga, as director, pretends that it's ambiguous. So you get a movie slightly at cross-purposes with itself.

One thing you're guaranteed to notice is that the young woman who plays Corinne as a teenager looks uncannily like Farmiga, down to her facial expressions and reactions. Chalk it up to nature, not CGI. Teenage Corinne is played by Taissa Farmiga, Vera's younger sister.

Exclusive: Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth; Angelika Dallas; Cinemark West Plano. Carol Briggs, who co-wrote the screenplay, will be in attendance at Sunday's 2 p.m. screening at the Modern.

-- Mick LaSalle,

San Francisco Chronicle