Good (2008)

The rise of national socialism in Germany should not be regarded as a conspiracy of madmen. Millions of "good" people found themselves in a society spiralling into terrible chaos. A film about then, which illuminates the terrors of now.

Director:

Vicente Amorim

Writers:

C.P. Taylor (stage play), John Wrathall (screenplay)

Stars:

Viggo Mortensen, Jason Isaacs, Jodie Whittaker

2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Viggo Mortensen	...	Halder
Jason Isaacs	...	Maurice
Jodie Whittaker	...	Anne
Steven Mackintosh	...	Freddie
Mark Strong	...	Bouhler
Gemma Jones	...	Mother
Anastasia Hille	...	Helen
Ruth Gemmell	...	Elizabeth
Ralph Riach	...	Brunau
Steven Elder	...	Eichmann
Kevin Doyle	...	Commandant
David de Keyser	...	Mandelstam
Guy Henry	...	Doctor
Adrian Schiller	...	Goebbels
Rick Warden	...	Brownshirt

Storyline

John Halder is a 'good' and decent individual with family problems: a neurotic wife, two demanding children and a mother suffering from senile dementia. A literary professor, Halder explores his personal circumstances in a novel advocating compassionate euthanasia. When the book is unexpectedly enlisted by powerful political figures in support of government propaganda, Halder finds his career rising in an optimistic current of nationalism and prosperity. Seemingly inconsequential decisions lead to choices, which lead to more choices... with eventually devastating effect.

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Plot Keywords:

book | suffering | dementia | novel | germany | 

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Taglines:

Anything that makes people happy can't be bad, can it?

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Genres:

Drama | Romance | War

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language

Details

Official Sites:

Official site Official site [jp]

Country:

UK Germany

Language:

English German French

Release Date:

17 April 2009 (UK)

Also Known As:

El principio del mal

Filming Locations:

Budapest, Hungary

Box Office

Budget:

$15,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$9,508 (USA) (2 January 2009)

Gross:

$23,091 (USA) (9 January 2009)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Good Films, Miromar Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

96 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital EX

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The film was originally to be directed by Lone Scherfig in 2005, with Hugh Jackman as Halder.

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Goofs

In the scene, when Halder takes a walk with his ex-wife in the cemetery, which is supposed to be in Berlin, Germany, Hungarian names are clearly visible on the gravestones.

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Soundtracks

"Caretakers' Song - Rheinlegendchen"
from Des Knaben Wunderhorn
Written by Gustav Mahler

User Reviews

Should have remained a stage play

This is a poor film adaptation of C.P. Taylor's stage play. I can see how this drama may have been much more effective on stage; unfortunately, under Vicente Amorim's amateurish direction this story loses all its impact as a motion picture.

Although others on this board have complained about Mortensen's performance, as well as the use of British accents, I happen not to agree: Mortensen's against-type performance was excellent, and the use of British accents served to constantly remind us that the characters were foreign, and, at the same time, allowed us to understand them. (Mortensen and others speaking in their native American accents would have been much more incongruous and jarring).

My main complaint about this movie is that it adds absolutely nothing to our knowledge of the Holocaust. It's an entirely superfluous film.