A curious young girl tries to check outLord of the Fliesfrom the library, only to be turned away by a stern librarian… thus begins a woman's bumpy relationship with religion, captured in the rich and rewardingHigher Ground. This is a movie that's all in the details. Corinne (Vera Farmiga,Up in the Air) vacillates between a craving for grace and resistance to the sincere but restrictive narrowness of her church; this plot description, though accurate, suggests something dour and angst-ridden. Instead,Higher Groundis full of humor, warmth, and a questioning but sincere look at a small religious community. Faith--a devotion to something unseen--is a tricky topic for a medium committed to the sensual pleasure of surfaces, butHigher Groundcaptures the yearning for connection, both human and divine, that brings churchgoers together. Farmiga, who also directed, projects a compelling mix of intelligence and vulnerability. She's at the center of an outstanding cast, including John Hawkes (Me and You and Everyone We Know), Joshua Leonard (Humpday), Donna Murphy (Trust Me), and numerous superb character actors. Don't overlook this wonderful movie.--Bret Fetzer