If you fancy a night in watching a DVD, then take a look at the selection available at Island Libraries. At just £1 per night, they’re a great bargain. Ed
Based on and adapted from the play set in the Germany of the 1930’s. ‘Good’ is a film that begins calmly and quietly enough, following the life of John Halder, a German literature professor.
What is interesting about ‘Good’ is that almost immediately it captures the essence of a play in English that shows the similarities of the Germanic population in a period of history and also the optimism of change.
Rather than being a literal exploration of the title, director Vicente Amorim directs in a relaxed fashion and through doing so, simply allows Viggo Mortensen and Jason Isaacs to act throughout the story with thoughtfulness and believability.
Due to the perspective of down-to-Earth normality that ‘Good’ brings with it, the film is so subtle that it could seem quite mundane. Characters are obviously humane and yet the film shows the transition in this period of Germany’s history with optimism.
However, the fact that ‘Good’ is not not angled from many different perspectives is its strength, as well as perhaps attempting to explain a logical turning point, that does not become preachy or dictate morals about the subject.
The outcome of events that the character of John Halder has created through his book, successful writing and destiny is beautifully played by Viggo Mortensen.
Vicente Amorim directs from the back and for a Dvd that uses curiosity, the ending of ‘Good’ is an explanation of true revelation beyond comparison.
