Honestly, walking into a theater for a faith-based movie usually comes with certain expectations. You expect the piano swells and the tidy resolutions. But Between Borders, the 2025 release directed by Mark Freiburger, hits a bit differently. It’s gritty. It's cold. It’s mostly about what happens when the world you live in decides you don't belong there anymore.
The movie follows the Petrosyan family. They are Armenians living in Azerbaijan during the late 1980s, just as the Soviet Union is starting to splinter like old wood. If you aren't a history buff, basically, the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict turned neighbors into enemies almost overnight. For Ivan and Violetta Petrosyan, "home" became a place where people were literally marching in the streets calling for their deaths.
Why Between Borders Movie 2025 is polarizing people
Some critics have called it "another' faith film, but that feels like a lazy take. It's an asylum drama. Elizabeth Tabish, who most people know as Mary Magdalene from The Chosen, plays Violetta. She is incredible here. There is this one scene—it's haunting—where she’s trying to get a job in Russia after they flee Azerbaijan. The employer makes her repeat phrases that basically strip her of her humanity just to get a paycheck. It’s uncomfortable to watch.
The movie isn't just about the escape, though. It’s about the "between" part.
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- First, they are outcasts in Azerbaijan because they’re Armenian.
- Then, they are outcasts in Russia because they aren't "Russian enough."
- Finally, they end up in a U.S. courtroom where a lawyer (played by a very cold Elizabeth Mitchell) tries to argue that their persecution wasn't actually that bad.
It’s a cycle of having to prove your pain to people who have never felt it.
The cast that brings the Petrosyans to life
The chemistry between Tabish and Patrick Sabongui (who plays Ivan) feels lived-in. Sabongui plays Ivan as a gentle musician, a guy who just wants to protect his daughters but keeps getting beaten down by a system that wants him gone.
Then you have the American side of the story. Elizabeth Mitchell—you probably remember her from Lost—is the antagonist, in a way. She isn't a villain with a cape; she’s a bureaucratic villain. She’s the government lawyer arguing against their asylum. It’s a frustrating, nuanced performance because she represents the "legal" wall that refugees hit even after they escape the "physical" wall of a border.
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Real-world context and production
The film was shot in Bucharest, Romania. You can feel that Eastern European chill in every frame. The cinematography by Rogier Stoffers (School of Rock, Redeeming Love) uses a lot of muted tones. It’s gray. It’s bleak. It makes the moments where "hope" shows up—usually through a small underground church or a kind stranger—actually feel earned.
What most people get wrong about the ending
Without spoiling the whole thing, people expect a "happily ever after" the second they touch American soil. But Between Borders movie 2025 spends a significant amount of time on the legal battle. This is based on a true story, and in real life, the Petrosyans didn't just walk into a dream. They had to fight a legal system that was skeptical of their trauma.
The film was produced by Angel Studios (the same folks behind Sound of Freedom) and Pinnacle Peak Pictures. While it has a clear Christian backbone—the family finds strength through a church planted by American missionaries—it’s more of a human rights story than a sermon.
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Is it worth the watch?
If you want a lighthearted popcorn flick, stay away. This is heavy. It deals with ethnic cleansing, the failure of communism, and the exhausting reality of being a refugee. But if you want to understand the Armenian experience or the sheer "resilience" required to move a family across three countries just to breathe freely, it’s essential.
The film had a limited theatrical run via Fathom Events in January 2025 and is now moving through the streaming ecosystem. It’s one of those rare movies that manages to be "faith-based" without being "fake."
How to watch and what to do next
If you're looking to catch Between Borders movie 2025, here is the best way to dive deeper into the story and the history behind it:
- Check Angel Studios: The film is currently streaming for members of the Angel Guild. If you don't have a subscription, they often have "Pay it Forward" options where you can watch for free thanks to other donors.
- Research the 1988 Baku Pogroms: To really get why the family was so terrified, look up the historical context of the Armenian exodus from Azerbaijan. The movie captures the vibe, but the history is even more intense.
- Look for the Discussion Guide: If you're watching with a group or a church, the official movie site has a guide that breaks down the legal and spiritual themes of the film.
- Follow the Cast: Elizabeth Tabish has been very vocal about how this role changed her perspective on the modern refugee crisis. Her interviews about the "Violetta" role add a lot of layers to the viewing experience.