Beyond Borders MPAA Rating: R Entertainment: +2 Content: -3

Sarah Jordan (Angelina Jolie) is a sheltered American socialite living in London and looking for meaning in her life in this drama. While shes attending an elegant fundraising dinner, an eccentric medical doctor, Nick Callahan (Clive Owen), barges in with a poor, little boy and rebukes the crowd for their hypocrisy and extravagance. Sarah is convicted by the mans speech and decides to do something about it. She buys three truckloads of food and supplies with her savings and personally takes it to drought-torn Ethiopia. She finds it to be worse than she imagined thousands dying of starvation and the country full of corruption. Despite the fact that she has a husband and a son, she finds herself strongly attracted to Dr. Callahan. And so begins her journey with a relief organization on dangerous adventures to many countries.

If youre looking for a feel-good movie, this isnt it. This one is filled with disturbing scenes not meant for the squeamish. Children suffer with malnutrition as buzzards wait nearby for death to arrive. Surgery is performed without anesthesia. In one war scene, a baby plays with a live grenade. The violence is used only to show the decadence and corruption in these countries. Beyond Borders raises a question: Is it okay to do evil (carrying weapons in food trucks) in order to accomplish good (feeding the hungry)? This film contrasts our great wealth with the desperately poor in much of the world and may motivate some to do something about it. Due to the disturbing elements and violence as well as some very bad language, Preview cannot recommend Beyond Borders. The film does however have some merit and may help shape your worldview and increase your appreciation of our blessings in the U.S.

Preview Reviewer: Alan Boyer
Distributor: Paramount Pictures