Apostasy (2017)

A faithful Jehovah's Witness is forced to shun her own sister because of a religious transgression. As the separation draws out, she starts to question the meaning of God's love.

Director:

Daniel Kokotajlo

Writer:

Daniel Kokotajlo (as Dan Kokotajlo)

Stars:

Siobhan Finneran, Bronwyn James, Robert Emms

Nominated for 1 BAFTA Film Award. Another 5 wins & 19 nominations.

Cast

Credited cast:
Siobhan Finneran	...	Ivanna
Bronwyn James	...	Chloe
Robert Emms	...	Steven
Steve Evets	...	Brother Terry
Sacha Parkinson	...	Luisa
Jessica Baglow	...	Michelle
Aqib Khan	...	Umar
Claire Hackett	...	Deborah
Molly Wright	...	Alex
James Foster	...	Elder Alan
James Quinn	...	Elder Brian
Poppy Jhakra	...	Doctor
James Puddephatt	...	Consultant
Jacqueline Pilton	...	Sister Murphy
Clare McGlinn	...	Aunty Linda

Storyline

A faithful Jehovah's Witness is forced to shun her own sister because of a religious transgression. As the separation draws out, she starts to question the meaning of God's love.

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Plot Keywords:

jehovah's witness | mother daughter relationship | one word title | reference to jehovah | teenage daughter | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

TV-14

Did You Know?

Trivia

"Bethel" is mentioned in the film. This is the HQ of the Watchtower Society which runs the JWs.

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Quotes

Luisa: Do you know how it feels, to think Jehovah the Almighty is punishing you, directly, all the time?
[pause]
Luisa: Why - when I'm sorry?

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Connections

Featured in Granada Reports: 20 July 2018: Evening Bulletin (2018)

User Reviews

Subtle and heartbreaking

Jehovah's Witnesses is one of the most famous sects in the world, yet it doesn't get anywhere near as much exposure as Scientology. This is probably one of the best faith based movies I've ever seen, mostly because it deals with the emotional and moral consequences the things you are taught to believe can have on those you love in a very realistic way. The acting is natural and none of the performers feel like people acting for a movie. It was like getting into the look of a real family and their hardships. As for how Jehovah's Witnesses members themselves are portrayed, the point is not to show them as evil. It's more of a cautionary stance, on whether it's worth jeopardizing your children's lives because of your conviction to follow one certain ideology. The controversy about Jehovah's Witnesses is that you are not allowed to give or receive blood, even in life-threatening circumstances. The mother in this movie is not an inherently bad person, she just can't find a way to balance her love for God and the love for her children. And that has consequences she might wish she would never had to deal with.

This movie will stay with you after you've watched it. I urge those who not only are interested in the subject matter of organized sects to see it, but those who think a lot about beliefs and how they can affect other people in general.

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook Official site

Country:

UK

Language:

English Urdu

Release Date:

27 July 2018 (UK)

Also Known As:

Apostasy

Filming Locations:

Oldham, Greater Manchester, England, UK

Box Office

Budget:

GBP500,000 (estimated)

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$434,336

Company Credits

Production Co:

BBC Films, British Film Institute (BFI), Creative England

Technical Specs

Runtime:

95 min

Aspect Ratio:

1.50 : 1