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Passage to Zarahemla (2007) movie poster

Characters & Themes

Passage to Zarahemla (2007) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

Release, runtime and language
2007 · 95 mins · English
Starring
Sila Agavale, D.L. Walker, Bruce Newbold, Chris Laird, Seth Packard, Summer Naomi Smart

Two L.A. teenagers flee to Utah, seeking refuge with distant Mormon relatives to escape their troubled pasts. When an earthquake triggers a temporal rift, they and their pursuers are thrust into an ancient Mesoamerican war, forcing them to confront both history and personal demons.

On this page (7)
  1. 1 Characters explained (6)
  2. 2 Where & when it takes place
  3. 3 Themes & meaning (3)
  4. 4 Character & meaning questions
  5. 5 Movie threads
  6. 6 Movies like Passage to Zarahemla
  7. 7 Every angle

6 main characters · contains spoilers

Passage to Zarahemla Characters Explained: Who Is Who

The main characters of Passage to Zarahemla (2007), heroes and villains: what drives them, how they change over the course of the story and what each of them reveals about the film's bigger ideas.

  • Kerra McConnell

    played by Summer Naomi Smart

    A resourceful, determined teenage girl who flees with her brother after their mother's death to avoid state custody. She masterminds their escape to Leeds and confronts memories of her childhood friend Kiddoni as the time rift begins. She becomes the emotional anchor as worlds collide and family loyalties are tested.

    • 🎯 Protagonist
    • 👪 Family
    • 🧭 Adventure
  • Brock McConnell

    played by Brian Kary

    Kerra's older brother with a troubled past who leaves his gang life behind to protect his sister. He drives their escape and faces capture by Gadianton forces, navigating betrayal and loyalty while seeking safety for his sister.

    • 💥 Rebel
    • 👊 Brotherly
    • 🛡️ Protector
  • Chris McConnell

    played by Chris Heimerdinger

    The children's father who disappeared years earlier during a hunting trip and reappears amid the time-bending crisis. He helps reunite the family and contributes to navigating the Nephite-Gadianton conflict.

    • 👨 Father
    • 🧭 Guide
    • 💪 Resilient
  • Kiddoni

    played by Moronai Kanekoa

    Kerra's imaginary childhood friend who is revealed to be a Nephite-era being. He appears at key moments to guide Kerra and signals the opening of the time portal that connects past and present.

    • 👻 Imaginary Friend
    • 🧭 Guide
    • 🗝️ Time Portal
  • Uncle Drew

    played by Bruce Newbold

    Corrine's husband and Kerra and Brock's uncle who provides shelter and support after their arrival in Leeds. He remains protective and pragmatic as danger from the rift looms.

    • 👨 Uncle
    • 🛡️ Protector
    • 🏠 Shelter
  • Aunt Corrine

    played by Jan Broberg

    The children's aunt who offers a place to stay and anchors the family amid the upheaval. She shares family history and helps the siblings cope with loss while chaos unfolds outside.

    • 👩 Aunt
    • 🏠 Shelter
    • 🗝️ Secrets

Last updated: October 03, 2025 at 14:41

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Setting

Where and When Does Passage to Zarahemla Take Place?

The setting of Passage to Zarahemla (2007): the year and time period, the places and locations, and how they shape the characters, the mood and the tension of the story.

Time period

Present day

The action unfolds in contemporary times across Utah and California. A seismic event triggers a growing time portal linking the modern world to ancient Nephite history, allowing both Nephite and Gadianton forces to enter the present. As the rift widens and then closes, the characters must cope with the consequences of two eras colliding.

Location

Leeds, Utah, California

Leeds, Utah is depicted as a small, LDS-rich desert town in the southern part of the state, providing a close-knit setting for Kerra and Brock's escape. The aunt and uncle's house near Leeds becomes a focal point when the earthquake triggers a time rift. The area also serves as a staging ground for the Nephite-Gadianton clash that spills into the present day.

  • 🗺️ Leeds
  • 🏜️ Utah desert town
  • 🕰️ Time-bending

Last updated: October 03, 2025 at 14:41

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3 major themes

Passage to Zarahemla Meaning: Themes & Message Explained

What is Passage to Zarahemla (2007) really about? The emotional, social and philosophical themes the film keeps returning to, its symbolism and the message beneath the surface.

  • Time Rift

    An earthquake creates a rift that blends modern Utah with ancient Nephite history. Kerra's contact with Kiddoni signals the portal’s awakening and the arrival of Nephite and Gadianton forces into the present. The overlap forces the siblings to navigate two worlds and redefine what family means across eras. The portal acts as a catalyst for personal growth and revelations about their family's past.

  • Family and Belonging

    Kerra and Brock are thrust into a precarious situation after their mother's death and their father's disappearance. Their flight from social services and shelter with relatives tests loyalty, resilience, and the bonds that tie siblings together. The revelation that their father is alive in another timeline reshapes their sense of identity and hope. Family ties guide decisions as danger expands from the past into the present.

  • Conflict and Survival

    The Nephite-Gadianton war spills into the modern day as the rift grows, culminating in a major battle near the Whitman home. Brock's capture and the unexpected return of Chris heighten the stakes and force quick, hard choices for safety. After a final earthquake, the eras are separated again, leaving the family to regroup. Courage, resourcefulness, and family loyalty drive the characters through peril across two worlds.

Last updated: October 03, 2025 at 14:41

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Character & theme questions

Passage to Zarahemla Characters & Meaning: Your Questions Answered

The questions people ask about Passage to Zarahemla (2007): who the characters really are, their relationships, what the symbols mean, where it takes place and what the movie is really about. Each answer contains spoilers.

Q1

Where is the movie set?

The story takes place primarily in Leeds, Utah, a small desert town in the southern part of the state known for its close-knit LDS community. The characters also travel from Los Angeles, California before arriving at their relatives' home near Leeds.

  • leeds utah
  • setting
  • locations
  • desert town
Q2

What time period does the story take place in?

The movie is set in contemporary present day. A seismic event creates a time portal that connects modern Utah to ancient Nephite history, allowing characters from different eras to interact.

  • present day
  • modern
  • time period
  • era
Q3

What is the Nephite-Gadianton war?

The Nephite-Gadianton war is a conflict from Book of Mormon history between the Nephites (a righteous civilization) and the Gadiantons (a secretive, warlike group). In the movie, this ancient conflict spills into the modern world through the time rift.

  • nephite
  • gadianton
  • book of mormon
  • ancient war
  • history
Q4

What does the time rift represent in the story?

The time rift serves as a catalyst that blends modern Utah with ancient Nephite history. It forces the characters to navigate two worlds and redefines what family means across eras, acting as a mechanism for personal growth and revelations about their family's past.

  • time portal
  • time rift
  • ancient history
  • past present
Q5

Who is Kiddoni?

Kiddoni is Kerra's childhood friend who she believed was imaginary. He is revealed to be a Nephite-era being who appears at key moments to guide Kerra and signals the opening of the time portal that connects past and present.

  • kiddoni
  • nephite
  • guide
  • imaginary friend
  • mentor
Q6

Who is Kerra McConnell?

Kerra is a resourceful, determined teenage girl who flees with her brother Brock after their mother's death to avoid state custody. She masterminds their escape to Leeds and becomes the emotional anchor as worlds collide and family loyalties are tested.

  • kerra
  • protagonist
  • teenage girl
  • escape
  • main character
Q7

Who is Brock McConnell?

Brock is Kerra's older brother with a troubled past who leaves his gang life behind to protect his sister. He drives their escape to Utah and faces capture by Gadianton forces while seeking safety for his sister.

  • brock
  • brother
  • protective
  • gang
  • sibling
Q8

Who is Chris McConnell?

Chris McConnell is the children's father who disappeared years earlier during a hunting trip. He reappears amid the time-bending crisis and helps reunite the family while contributing to navigating the Nephite-Gadianton conflict.

  • chris
  • father
  • missing
  • family
  • reunited
Q9

What is the family theme in the movie?

Family and belonging is a central theme. After their mother's death and their father's disappearance, Kerra and Brock's flight to relatives tests loyalty and sibling bonds. The revelation that their father is alive in another timeline reshapes their sense of identity and hope.

  • family
  • belonging
  • siblings
  • parent
  • identity
Q10

Who are Kerra and Brock's relatives in Utah?

Their Aunt Corrine and Uncle Drew provide shelter and support after their arrival in Leeds. Corrine shares family history and helps the siblings cope with loss, while Uncle Drew remains protective and pragmatic as danger from the rift looms.

  • aunt corrine
  • uncle drew
  • relatives
  • family
  • utah
Q11

What is the religious context of the movie?

The movie incorporates elements from Book of Mormon history, featuring the Nephites and Gadiantons as historical groups. Leeds, Utah is depicted as an LDS-rich community, and the ancient civilizations featured are drawn from Mormon religious tradition.

  • mormon
  • lds
  • book of mormon
  • religious
  • nephite

Movie threads

More Movies Like Passage to Zarahemla, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes Passage to Zarahemla tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Modern Teens Thrust into Ancient Conflicts like in Passage to Zarahemla

Contemporary characters unexpectedly plunged into historical wars and survival. If you enjoyed the high-stakes adventure of Passage to Zarahemla, discover other movies where contemporary teens find themselves in the heart of an ancient war. These stories blend survival action with a fish-out-of-water journey, creating tense and adventurous experiences.

  • adventurous
  • tense
  • urgent
  • perilous
  • fish-out-of-water
  • historical
  • Tone: tense, adventurous, urgent
  • Pacing: fast, action-packed
Why these movies?

The story pattern: This narrative pattern begins with a disruptive event—an earthquake, a magical object, a scientific accident—that bridges time. Modern characters are forced to adapt quickly, facing threats from a bygone era and often playing a key role in resolving a historical conflict, which parallels their own personal growth.

Why they belong together: Movies are grouped here for their shared core premise: a direct, often violent, collision between the modern world and an ancient one. They share a fast pace, medium-to-high intensity, and a tense tone fueled by survival against overwhelming odds, ultimately leading to a hopeful resolution.

Runaway Journeys to Uncover Family Mysteries like in Passage to Zarahemla

Fleeing danger leads to discovering hidden histories and forging new bonds. Fans of Passage to Zarahemla will appreciate these movies about characters fleeing trouble only to find themselves on a path of discovery. These films combine elements of escape, family reunion, and uncovering long-buried secrets, resulting in a hopeful and emotionally resonant adventure.

  • anxious
  • hopeful
  • familial
  • urgent
  • mysterious
  • coming of age
  • Tone: tense, hopeful, familial
  • Pacing: fast, urgent
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The journey starts with an escape from immediate danger, leading the protagonist to a place of supposed safety that is rich with untold family history. External conflicts, often fantastical or action-oriented, act as a catalyst to force the resolution of internal, familial struggles, culminating in healing and a stronger sense of self.

Why they belong together: This thread groups films that blend the urgency of an escape plot with the emotional depth of a family mystery. They share a moderate complexity, a tense yet ultimately hopeful tone, and focus on the theme of finding one's place by confronting the past.

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Every angle

Passage to Zarahemla (2007) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about Passage to Zarahemla in one place: what happens in the plot summary, the timeline in chronological order, the characters and meaning and a spoiler-free summary. What's After the Movie adds the cast, box office and post-credit scenes.

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