The Saratov Approach

Last updated
Saratov Approach
The Saratov Approach DVD Cover.jpg
Directed byGarrett Batty
Written byGarrett Batty
Produced byGarrett Batty
Jake Van Wagoner
Maclain Nelson
Jonathan Turner
Starring Corbin Allred
Maclain Nelson
Nikita Bogolyubov
Alex Veadov
CinematographyJeremy Prusso
Edited byConnor O'Malley
Music byRobert Allen Elliott
Production
companies
Three Coin Productions
Saratov Films
Distributed byPurdie Distribution
Release date
  • October 9, 2013 (2013-10-09)
Running time
1 hr 47 min
Country United States
LanguagesEnglish
Russian
Box office$2,146,999

The Saratov Approach is a 2013 American dramatic thriller film written and directed by Garrett Batty. It depicts the 1998 kidnapping of two missionaries of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) in Saratov, Russia. It began a limited release on October 9, 2013, solely in Utah. Subsequently, the film was released throughout the Mormon Corridor. [1] On January 10, 2014, the film began an expanded limited release throughout the United States. [2] [3]

Contents

Plot

It is March 1998, and two young missionaries for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Andrew Lee Propst (Maclain Nelson) and Travis Robert Tuttle (Corbin Allred), are serving in southeastern Russia. While out in the city of Saratov, the two are approached by a man named Nikolai (Nikita Bogolyubov) who asks them to come to his apartment to teach him and a friend about their faith. When the Elders arrive the next day, Nikolai and another man named Sergei (Alex Veadov) beat them, tie them up, and kidnap them. They drive to a remote location where the missionaries are handcuffed to a pipe, held at gunpoint, and photographed. The kidnappers demand a ransom of $300,000. Propst and Tuttle's families are informed of their sons' kidnapping; Propst's father receives a call from Senator Gordon H. Smith (Bart Johnson), who informs him that he is doing everything he can to resolve the issue.

Meanwhile, in Russia, Propst and Tuttle spend five days in captivity. Propst is convinced that Nikolai will have compassion on them and eventually let them go, so he asks him for small favors, like food, a bathroom, and being moved to a more comfortable position - all of which Nikolai grants. Sergei is less kind; he grows impatient that the ransom money still hasn't been paid, and has the missionaries write to their families, in hopes that it will speed the payment of the ransom. Back in the U.S., news of the kidnappings spreads nationwide, and people of many faiths begin to pray for the two hostages. The Propst family receives an anonymous check for the demanded $300,000, but ultimately decide not to pay it, as it would encourage the kidnapping of more missionaries for easy money. The Tuttle family receives a call from Mark Larsen, who was kidnapped as a missionary in Argentina years earlier. Larsen explains that with time, the missionaries will develop more hope and faith and start to show compassion to their captors.

This proves to be true; Propst manages to remove his handcuffs and devises a plan with Tuttle to escape, but the two then remember their purpose as a missionaries and put their cuffs back on instead of fighting their way out of captivity. Nikolai then confides in the Elders, confessing his guilt for kidnapping them; he explains that his girlfriend is pregnant, and he helped Sergei kidnap "rich Christians" so that he would have money to provide for a family. The Elders ask about a tattoo on Sergei's hand, which Nikolai tells them came from his days as a Russian Naval hero and means "forever loyal."

The next morning, Sergei announces that their time is up, and drives Tuttle and Propst to a snowy field. As Sergei prepares to kill them, he notices that the missionaries have drawn markings on their hands similar to his tattoo, giving him pause. He and Nikolai drive away, leaving Tuttle and Propst to run away and find their way back to Saratov. Their families are informed that they have been freed, and that Nikolai and Sergei have been arrested by Russian officials. Propst and Tuttle speak over the phone to their families, and finish their missions elsewhere in Europe.

Cast

Production

Director Garrett Batty had wanted to make a film about the kidnapping of the LDS missionaries ever since he first heard their story in the news. Years later, he contacted Propst and Tuttle with the intention of making a movie about their experiences in Russia; the two were skeptical at first, but met with Batty and shared their story. Batty wrote the script after his conversation with Propst and Tuttle, balancing the actual events with his own artistic vision for the film. Production hit multiple snags: Batty underwent heart surgery shortly after his meeting with Propst and Tuttle, and financial backing took a while to manifest. [3] The outdoor scenes set in Russia were filmed in Kiev, Ukraine, and the scenes of the missionaries' captivity and their families back home were filmed in Utah, USA. [4]

Batty wrote, directed, and produced the film, along with producers Maclain Nelson, Jonathan T. Turner, and Jake Van Wagoner. Jeremy Prusso was the cinematographer, Connor O'Malley was the editor, Heather Reid was the production designer, and Robert Allen Elliott composed the film's score. [5]

Reception

The Salt Lake Tribune praised the film as having "quietly resolute strength." [4] The film was also praised by Deseret News [6] and Meridian Magazine . [7] The Standard-Examiner called the film "one of the best in the Mormon film genre". [8] A Motley Vision gave the movie a B+. [9] TheHollywood Reporter described it as "an item best suited to the believers." [10] The Los Angeles Times reached a similar conclusion, calling Saratov "soft and preachy." [11] Larry King, who had a private screening of the film, [1] described it as "intense, dramatic, [and] beautifully acted." [12]

Variety reported that the film made "$500,000 in two weeks on only 23 screens." [1] The same article detailed the film's positive reception among younger Latter-day saints, particularly on social media, as well as requests from AMC, Cinemark, and Regal to host the film in more of their theaters. [1] Screen Daily reported that Saratov then made $1.4 million after four weeks. [2] It made $2.1 million overall after a 64-week theatrical release. [13] It was rated PG-13 for violence. [6]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gordon B. Hinckley</span> American religious leader and author (1910–2008)

Gordon Bitner Hinckley was an American religious leader and author who served as the 15th president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from March 1995 until his death in January 2008 at age 97. Considered a prophet, seer, and revelator by church members, Hinckley was the oldest person to preside over the church in its history until Russell M. Nelson surpassed his age in 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bruce R. McConkie</span> American religious leader (1915–1985)

Bruce Redd McConkie was a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1972 until his death. McConkie was a member of the First Council of the Seventy of the LDS Church from 1946 until his calling to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.

<i>The Other Side of Heaven</i> 2001 adventure drama film by Mitch Davis

The Other Side of Heaven is a 2001 American adventure drama film written and directed by Mitch Davis, based on John H. Groberg's first autobiography, In the Eye of the Storm. The film stars Christopher Gorham as John Groberg and Anne Hathaway as Jean Groberg.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dieter F. Uchtdorf</span> German aviator, airline executive and religious leader

Dieter Friedrich Uchtdorf is a German aviator, airline executive and religious leader. He is a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Called as an apostle in 2004, he served as Second Counselor to Thomas S. Monson in the church's First Presidency from 2008 until Monson's death on 2 January 2018. Currently, Uchtdorf is the fifth most senior apostle in the ranks of the church.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mormon cinema</span> Films with themes surrounding Mormonism

Mormon cinema usually refers to films with themes relevant to members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The term has also been used to refer to films that do not necessarily reflect Mormon themes but have been made by Mormon filmmakers. Films within the realm of Mormon cinema may be distinguished from institutional films produced by the LDS Church, such as Legacy and Testaments, which are made for instructional or proselyting purposes and are non-commercial. Mormon cinema is produced mainly for the purposes of entertainment and potential financial success.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Apostolic United Brethren</span> Polygamous Mormon fundamentalist church

The Apostolic United Brethren (AUB) is a Mormon fundamentalist group that practices polygamy. The AUB has had a temple in Mexico since at least the 1990s, an endowment house in Utah since the early 1980s, and several other locations of worship to accommodate their members in the US states of Wyoming, Arizona, and Montana.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mormon missionary</span> Missionary of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Missionaries of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints —widely known as Mormon missionaries—are volunteer representatives of the church who engage variously in proselytizing, church service, humanitarian aid, and community service. Missionaries of the LDS Church may be male or female and may serve on a full- or part-time basis, depending on the assignment. Missionaries are organized geographically into missions, which could be any one of the 411 missions organized worldwide. This is one of the practices that the LDS Church is well-known for.

Corbin Michael Allred is an American actor. He starred in the 2003 award-winning motion picture Saints and Soldiers and the 1997–1998 television series Teen Angel.

Latter Day Saints and Mormons have been portrayed in popular media many times. These portrayals often emphasize controversial subjects from the history and beliefs of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and other branches of the Latter Day Saint movement.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jonatana Napela</span> American Mormon leader

Jonatana Napela or Jonathan Hawaii Napela was one of the earliest Hawaiian converts to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Hawaii, joining in 1851. He helped translate the Book of Mormon into the Hawaiian language, as "Ka Buke a Moramona," working with missionary George Q. Cannon. Napela was appointed to serve as a superintendent of the colony at Kalaupapa, Molokaʻi, which he did for several years. He had accompanied his wife there after her diagnosis with leprosy. While at the settlement, he led LDS Church members and collaborated with Roman Catholic priest-missionary, Father Damien, to serve all the people of the settlement, most of which were Protestant.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ulisses Soares</span> Brazilian Apostle of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Ulisses Soares is a Brazilian religious leader and former businessman who serves as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He has been a general authority since 2005 and served as a member of the church's Presidency of the Seventy from January 2013 until his calling to the Quorum of the Twelve in March 2018. He is the LDS Church's first apostle from South America. As a member of the Quorum of the Twelve, Soares is accepted by the LDS Church as a prophet, seer, and revelator. Currently, he is the fourteenth most senior apostle in the church.

<i>American Mormon</i> 2005 film

American Mormon is a 2005 comedic documentary that takes look at the real life misconceptions concerning the faith and culture of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Kent Farnsworth Richards has been a general authority of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints since 2009.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Black Mormons</span>

Since Mormonism's foundation, Black people have been members, however the church placed restrictions on proselytization efforts among Black people. Before 1978, Black membership was small. It has since grown, and in 1997, there were approximately 500,000 Black members of the church, mostly in Africa, Brazil and the Caribbean. Black membership has continued to grow substantially, especially in West Africa, where two temples have been built. By 2018, an estimated 6% of members were Black worldwide. In the United States, approximately 1% of members are Black.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Russia</span> Presence of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Russia

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints had a presence in Russia before the rise of the USSR, with the first baptisms occurring in 1895. Preliminary missionary efforts began before the dissolution of the Soviet Union, and the Russian government officially recognized the church in 1991. Membership increased in the 1990s and early 2000s. Missionary efforts were impacted by the 2016 Yarovaya law, which prohibited proselytizing outside of official church property. Current membership statistics are not available for Russia, but the church reported 19,946 members in 2009. As of February 2023, there were three stakes and three missions in Russia. In 2018, Russell M. Nelson announced that a temple would be constructed in a major city in Russia.

<i>Inspired Guns</i> 2014 American film

Inspired Guns is a 2014 comedy film. It was written, directed, and produced by Adam White, who also plays a role in the film. It is distributed by Pitch White Entertainment. Most of the cast and crew are members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and one of the stated goals of the movie is to "create good clean content" for family audiences.

<i>Freetown</i> (film) 2015 American film

Freetown is a 2015 biopic film based on a true story about missionaries of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Liberia seeking to escape the 1990 Liberian Civil War to safety in bordering Sierra Leone.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Garrett Batty</span> Director and filmmaker

Garrett Batty is an American film director, writer, and producer known for his film The Saratov Approach. He is a graduate of Brigham Young University and a native of Park City, Utah. He is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and his films are part of Mormon cinema, but with a more general audience. He has written, directed, and produced four full-length films, including Freetown (2015) and Out of Liberty (2019), and will begin work on a fifth in 2020. For Freetown, he was awarded the 2015 Ghana Movie Award for Best Screenplay alongside Melissa Leilani Larson.

The 1998 kidnapping of Mormon missionaries in Saratov, Russia involved the abduction of two missionaries of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Andrew Lee Propst and Travis Robert Tuttle, on March 18, 1998. One of the kidnappers had a friend invite the missionaries to his apartment in Saratov, Russia. Upon entry, they were hit in the head, driven to a separate location, and photographed as part of the kidnappers' demand for $300,000. A ransom note was left at the house of a local member of the LDS Church. The missionaries were released on March 22 after four days in captivity, without the ransom being paid. It was the first major incident involving foreign missionaries to occur in the "Russian heartland."

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Young Mormon Moviegoers Have Faith in Real-Life Pic ‘Saratov Approach’
  2. 1 2 Saratov to expand nationwide
  3. 1 2 McBride, Erin Ann (January 24, 2014), ""The Saratov Approach" Breaks Records and Molds", Meridian Magazine
  4. 1 2 Means, Sean P. (October 8, 2013). "Movie review: 'Saratov Approach' a moving drama of fear and faith". The Salt Lake Tribune . Retrieved 20 October 2013.
  5. ↑ "The Saratov Approach: Cast and Crew". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 2020-03-24.
  6. 1 2 Terry, Josh (October 9, 2013). "'Saratov Approach' captures suspense of real-life missionary abduction drama". Deseret News . Retrieved 20 October 2013.
  7. ↑ Proctor, Mariah (October 3, 2013). "The Saratov Approach: A Film that Finally Tells the Rest of the Story". Meridian Magazine. Retrieved 20 October 2013.
  8. ↑ Salles, Steve (October 9, 2013). "'Saratov Approach' One of the Best in the Mormon Film Genre". Standard-Examiner . Retrieved 20 October 2013.
  9. ↑ Review: The Saratov Approach (B+)
  10. ↑ Linden, Sheri (9 January 2014). "The Saratov Approach: Film Review". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2020-03-06.
  11. ↑ Goldstein, Gary (9 January 2014). "Review: 'Saratov Approach' is a spiritual thriller with little soul". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2020-03-06.
  12. ↑ "The Best Mormon Movies for Mainstream Audiences". LDS Magazine. Retrieved 2020-03-10.
  13. ↑ "The Saratov Approach". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 2020-03-06.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.