Film

“The Saratov Approach” is the film that just won’t quit. It’s already beat expectations by making over a million dollars faster than any other LDS-themed film. If that wasn’t amazing enough, prepare to be astounded by how far and wide the film will reach this weekend.

As of Jan 31 THE SARATOV APPROACH will be on 84 screens across the US and Canada. This weekend alone it will debut in 48 new theaters. At many of the debuts there will be Q&A sessions with members of the cast, crew and real-life missionaries.

The movie stars Maclain Nelson and Corbin Allred who play Elders Propst and Tuttle respectively, who served in the city of Saratov in the Russia Samara mission. The film shows missionary life, including Propst’s “hump day,” where the elders carry on the unofficial tradition of burning a white shirt.

The familiar missionary life comes to an end as the elders meet with a contact, where they are attacked and beaten. The real-life story escalates, and the elders are suddenly being held hostage for $300,000.

Director Garrett Batty first learned of the story as a film student at BYU in 1998. In his own words, he “was fascinated by the news coverage and how widely the story was carried.” He kept the idea in the back of his mind to make a film about Propst and Tuttle’s story. It wasn’t until the “Book of Mormon the Musical” came out that he was motivated to “share a better story” about Mormon missionaries.

Below is a listing of cities that will have showings with Q&A sessions or a cast, crew, or missionary appearance this weekend.

To find out if there is a regular showing in your city, please consult local movie listings or fandango.com.

Erin Ann McBride is a writer, dreamer, and single woman. By day she works in marketing, and by night she hunts unicorns and writes romantic novels, “You Heard It Here First,” and the sequel “This Just In!” She accepts new friends daily at www.facebook.com/AuthorErinAnnMcBride