This is one of those movies whose cinematic heart is in the right place, but which falls short in the execution. To some extent anyways.
We have maybe a dozen characters here, tracing three separate story lines, cadged from three separate short stories by a Japanese author. They depict people who have various problems; parent-child abuse in two cases, while others are more complex.
The most important character is a young male grade school teacher who is often unable to control his class, but at the same time brings a fresh perspective to his work, especially WRT an assignment he gives his charges at the end.
...unfortunately, several of the performances, and a number of the plot developments, strain credulity. Some parts are quite easy to believe; others are, frankly, borderline absurd.
Which is a pity, because the recurring theme, about how by helping others we help ourselves, is noble and worthwhile and so, so right. But verisimilitude is important too, and in this respect, Being Good does not always ring true.
We have maybe a dozen characters here, tracing three separate story lines, cadged from three separate short stories by a Japanese author. They depict people who have various problems; parent-child abuse in two cases, while others are more complex.
The most important character is a young male grade school teacher who is often unable to control his class, but at the same time brings a fresh perspective to his work, especially WRT an assignment he gives his charges at the end.
...unfortunately, several of the performances, and a number of the plot developments, strain credulity. Some parts are quite easy to believe; others are, frankly, borderline absurd.
Which is a pity, because the recurring theme, about how by helping others we help ourselves, is noble and worthwhile and so, so right. But verisimilitude is important too, and in this respect, Being Good does not always ring true.
