Good Favour

Good Favour is a captivating and thought-provoking 2017 drama written by Rebecca Daly and Glenn Montgomery, and directed by the former. Co-produced by Belgium, Denmark, and Ireland, this film is an enigmatic exploration of faith and community bonds, starring the talented Vincent Romeo, Lars Brygmann, and Clara Rugaard.

Good Favour tells the intriguing story of a teenage boy named Tom (played by Vincent Romeo), who mysteriously emerges from a forest with no clear idea of where he comes from. He stumbles upon a small, undisclosed community of Christians living in harmony with nature in the heartland of Europe.

As Tom enters this secluded and tight-knit community, he initially incites a sentiment of suspicion and unrest. However, as the film progresses, this outsider's arrival coincides with strange happenings in the community, making them highly attentive to his presence. Lars Brygmann delivers an engaging performance as Peter, the local pastor and de facto leader of the community who introduces Tom to their way of life. Clara Rugaard portrays Shoshanna, Peter’s daughter, who develops an intriguing relationship with Tom.

Director Rebecca Daly tastefully showcases the community's way of life, a powerful commitment to faith and isolationism, interspersed with moments of both harmony and doubt. From biblical teachings and rituals to everyday tasks such as farming, the community's essence is slowly and steadily unfurled so as to comprehend their belief system, their dependency on one another, and their collective unease when their status quo is disrupted.

Tom’s entrance into the community poses a significant ethical and spiritual puzzle as the members attempt to make sense of their new visitor. Throughout the narrative, the theme of faith versus rationality surfaces as the community grapples with the impact of Tom. As he starts to integrate into the community, his quiet and often profound effect on the community’s values, faith, and interrelationships unfolds in a series of emotion-infused scenes.

Moreover, the community's response to Tom's charm and the strange happenings that follow is a vividly depicted dichotomy, blending both hostility and acceptance. Unfolding from this dichotomy is an exploration of the nature of faith and the delineation between belief and manipulation, which prompts thought-provoking introspection of unquestioning faith and its implications.

The performances in the film are outstanding, with Vincent Romeo, Lars Brygmann, and Clara Rugaard delivering nuanced performances that skillfully depict their internal conflicts and external interactions. The audience witnesses the characters' journey through various stages of skepticism, acceptance, and fascination, all delicately portrayed by these gifted actors.

The cinematography of the film is a true visual treat. Filmed across vast landscapes, the movie captures breathtaking panoramic shots, from dense forests to sprawling fields, complementing the secluded and insular storyline of the film. The lush rural vistas and the vividly shot surroundings of the secretive community provide an excellent backdrop for this unusual narrative.

The film’s hallmark lies in its haunting silence – a multitude of unspoken dialogues that linger in the air, allowing viewers to interpret and fill the spaces with their imagination. It delves into the domain of silence to effectively express anxiety, mystique, and tension.

Good Favour is not just a movie but an experience - it invites the audience into a secluded world where faith plays an integral role in everyday life, and questions the capacity for understanding and acceptance in a tightly-knit community when an unfamiliar element invades their known reality. Packed with enigmatic characters and thought-provoking themes, the film is an intriguing examination of faith in the face of life’s unknowns.

In conclusion, Good Favour is a compelling drama that challenges the viewer to consider and question the fundamental nature of faith, community, and peculiarities of self-contained societies. In an era where films often lean on fast-paced action or grandiose spectacles, this film’s quiet introspection, layered narrative, and the challenging ambiguity it presents make it a uniquely moving cinematic experience. With a talented cast and a confident hand in direction coupled with a rich, beautiful, and mysterious setting, Good Favour is a film that promises to stay with its audience long after the credits roll. It is a tribute to the art of cinema that challenges the viewer to think and introspect, presenting a narrative that beautifully balances ambiguity and revelation, and an exploration of faith that is fascinating, if not definitive.