What is good? Who gets to decide when something or someone is good or bad? This is the basic idea of Vincente Amorim's film entitled "Good". The title refers to one man's struggle with the idea of what is good for him, the people he loves, and ultimately his country. The internal struggle John Halder faces was the same for many people of this time. The people of 1930's Germany were witnesses to what some would call hell on Earth. People like John Halder were plagued with the idea that they alone could to nothing. They knew it would be "good" of them to stand up and do something to help the people being persecuted, but at what cost? I dont think anyone would blame Halder for not standing up to his own nation. Honestly what could he have done? Nothing. In order to stay alive, it was his job to be a "good" German. The film asks us, should you be a good human and attempt to save the lives of others, but ultimately die yourself and possibly do no good even attempting, or should you do as your told?
The idea that this film was not distributed in the United States is absolutely ludicrous. I wonder if I missed something while watching the film that was horribly degrading to United States citizens or towards our government, because the film I saw was very interested and quiet insightful to an entire nation of people during a certain time in history. The film was a British film so that could possibly be why. I am not curtain about the rules of copyrights and how that could effect an overseas distribution, but if there are no laws preventing it than that is a shame for American audiences.
In the photo John Halder and his second wife Anne are side by side like all "good" and civilized couples should be during this point in history. This photo is a great depiction of the entire film. It shows John and Anne dressed up at a formal event that they probably did not want to attend anyways, but they went. They went because it was appropriate. It was "good" for them to be seen out. By mingling in a social setting it gives off the appearance that nothing is wrong. It gives off the impression that there is no change in their day to day lives, but underneath those fancy clothes they are tormented and distraught having to deal with the Nazi party and all that goes along with it.
Blaine, Your discussion about Good Germans is excellent. Maybe the fact that good people often do nothing is the reason bad people come to power. You need to do a much more specific mise en scene analysis of the scene referring specifically to at least three elements.
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