"To verdener" - "Worlds apart" thread

DagothUr

I have just seen the movie. It's very accurate when describing the JW lifestyle and convictions, even their clothes and hairstyle. But a bearded elder with a rather long hair??? Come on! And when this bearded elder gives a speech at the congress, he says "a girl from my congregation...". This is a phrase that would have been enough to draw a nice spanking from the CO after the congress. That elder was the only character that seemed out of place. It's a nice movie and having the ex-JW perspective really helped me out in tasting it.

Mad Sweeney

Folks from Europe have said the elder's grooming was accurate for northern European JWs.

im stuck in

I agree with ms. I have known european elders that have beards. And the no tie thing and casual clothes, remember they were called in in a moments time which I have done myself. Sometimes there was no time to change clothes. Remember the father was an elder previously. Those were his friends and they say this as an emergency meeting. Seems very real to me.

PublishingCult

At first I thought there were minor inaccuracies, but having spent some time in congregations in a foreign country, I considered that the film was probably written according to how a congregation in Denmark is actually ordered. We take into account that congregations in different lands are influenced by the culture, customs, attitudes, etc., of that country, no matter what the WTBTS claims in the way of uniformity.

I recently viewed Worlds Apart and was delighted that the writer(s) and director paid such close attention to detail- right down to a Danish version of a Kingdom Melody set to the tune of Forward You Witnesses. In this film, outsiders are given a rare and fair accurate glimpse of what it's like to be inside the organization of Jehovah's Witnesses. It also gives those who have left the organization a bittersweet stroll down memory lane. It dredged up a little mnemonic discomfort for me as I watched JW elders separated a teenage girl from the protection and representation of her parents, interrogating her in the back room of the Kingdom Hall about the intimate details of her relationship with the boy she loves. I tasted bile when a JW parent exerted control and fear with threats of death and shunning, revealing just how conditional and shallow his love for his child really was. Unflinchingly and with an all-too-familiar stony heart discarded her (and her brother who was disfellowshipped for "reading the wrong book") for withdrawing her coerced commitment to peddle WTBTS publications at every opportunity.

This movie does a fine job of demonstrating the subtle nuances of conflict, coercion, and control over a member’s heart and mind. Would love to see more movies like this one.

new light

I found the movie to be very accurate. Even the unique psychological nuances only a real (ex)JW could understand were portrayed well. It is a good film to show "worldlies" who are curious about what it is really like to be a JW. This film is refreshingly accurate compared to all the jokes and stereotypes that float around regarding dubs.

ziddina

What Publishing Cult said - and the others...

I'm watching the movie - again - right now...

When I first saw the movie, I thought it was a bit 'shallow'. [Must have been goofing on the computer and not paying full attention...] Now that I've seen it a few more times, I realize that the film-makers did an exquisite job of capturing the subtle nuances of Witness life...

From the slightly misogynistic mentality of the opening scene - in which a little boy preaches to his much older and more mature sister, because the 'male' is viewed as the 'head'...

To the somewhat self-righteous looks that the two JW girls - Sara and Thea - give each other while observing a birthday celebration in school.

To the gossipy looks that the congregation members give to Sara's father when it is announced that he has stepped down from his elder's position... Due to his having committed adultery... Though that is obviously not announced from the stage...

The movie nicely captures the unspoken attitudes and subtle misogyny of the Watchtower organization, too. The choice of the children to retain their father in the house, in spite of the fact that HE'S the one who is responsible for the breaking up of the family - very accurate...

Oh, and the painfully obvious hypocrisy of the young JW girls - Sara and Thea - as they casually discard their "Christian principles" in order to go "clubbing" like the worldlies...

The longing glance Sara casts towards the kids playing in the park, as she and her father trudge off for Saturday door-to-door service...

A DELICIOUS movie!!

Zid

DagothUr

I'm amazed. So, the brothers from the northern countries are allowed to give speeches and hold priviledges while wearing a beard and uncut hair? Even at a congress?

AudeSapere

DagothUr wrote: So, the brothers from the northern countries are allowed to give speeches and hold priviledges while wearing a beard and uncut hair? Even at a congress?

Yes. That is true. Been mentioned and discussed on several threads about this movie.

In America, his grooming would be considered rebelious and inappropriate for a man holding a position of leadership in a congregation but in parts of Europe, it is considered acceptable. Just as acceptable as wearing shorts in other countries where that is the custom.

The way you worded your comment, though, suggest that you are either not a witness, or maybe not from English-speaking country.

-Aude.

AudeSapere

Zid - I just watched it for the 2nd time. And, like you, THOROUGHLY enjoyed it. Also picked up on more of the nuances. They perfectly captured the undertones and expressions. I so related to both of the girls (Sara and her sister). So capable in the house. Mother was dispensible.

Really good, good movie. Well worth watching.

Time to return the 'borrowed' DVD back to the person who loaned it to me.

-Aude.

ziddina

Hah, Aude Sapere, I've watched it so many times, I'm beginning to pick up some Norweigan words!!!!

"Wh'fah?"= why

"Fah" - though it sounds a bit like the ending of the above word, means "Father"

"Muah" = Mother

"Yehoova" = Jehovah

They occasionally use english words - "okay"... "again"... "sex"... But I guess that the english language is probably a distant cousin to theirs...

Zid

"To verdener" - "Worlds apart" thread

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