Common Sense Media Review
By Kat Halstead
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Poignant Jehovah's Witness drama deals with mature themes.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 13+?
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Where to Watch
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Apostasy
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
In APOSTASY, mother Ivanna (Siobhan Finneran) and her daughters Alex (Molly Wright) and Luisa (Sacha Parkinson) live strict lives as Jehovah's Witnesses in a northern English town. When the rules of the religion directly threaten to impact the physical health of one daughter and the well-being of another, the three women must decide just how strong their faith is.
Is It Any Good?
Starkly lit, and populated with drab browns and grays, the oppressive, claustrophobic settings mirror the sense of joylessness and sacrifice expected of the three women at the center of this story. The first feature film from writer/director Daniel Kokotajlo -- himself brought up as a Jehovah's Witness until his early 20s -- Apostasy watches events unfold with a knowing intimacy yet a non-judgmental distance, raising questions through the characters' situations rather than forcing opinion onto them. Choices aren't oversimplified, even if some watching may feel there's no question to how they'd act given the circumstances. Even as Finneran's Ivanna appears to choose her faith over her daughter's well-being, she's not entirely unsympathetic, showing moments of empathy and a strong sense that allowing suffering could ultimately lead to redemption. Things aren't black and white here, and the three central performances reflect that with beautiful nuance. It's not an easy watch, by any means, but it's a confident debut that will most certainly make you think.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the role of religion in Apostasy. How was the Jehovah's Witness faith portrayed? What role did it play in the central family's dynamics? Did it make a difference knowing the director, Daniel Kokotajlo, was brought up as a Jehovah's Witness?
The central three characters are all female. How did the film treat gender? How was gender portrayed within the religious community?
The movie raises questions around choosing between faith and physical health, faith, and family. Discuss how those choices were approached in the movie. Can you understand both perspectives? If you have faith (even if it's a different religion), does it ever lead to difficult decisions of your own?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming : June 5, 2018
- Cast : Molly Wright , Siobhan Finneran , Sacha Parkinson
- Director : Daniel Kokotajlo
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Gravitas Ventures
- Genre : Drama
- Topics : Faith ( Christianity ) , Family Stories ( Siblings )
- Run time : 95 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Award : BAFTA - BAFTA Nominee
- Last updated : February 4, 2026
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