“Good Favour” is a brilliantly told parable in a modern day setting that showcases how miracles can bring hope to a community that has lost all hope of it.

“Good Favour” was released in 2017 and directed by Rebecca Daly. It’s a drama that entails a teenage boy named Tom who has been living in the woods for an unmentionable amount of time. He comes across a mysterious catholic village hidden there with people living a life that seems to be cut off from the rest of society. Nonetheless they welcome him with open arms and although suspicious of him at first having experienced a series of unfortunate events that tests the community’s faith, Tom’s presence soon changes the minds of the village people.

With the backdrop of the vast woods, an entire farm with bees and cattle including a forested nearby lake, the film contains a great amount of beautiful scenery that helps to tell the story effortlessly. Even when Rebecca introduces moments of surrealism it does not take away from the film. I found the cinematography in the sense of showcasing the way the characters live with simple lengthy shots, the use of natural daylight and the contrast of it to show enlightened and dark moments was brilliant.

The film is a great example of simplicity and subtlety which is expressed greatly and extends to the dialogue; it’s not what they say but how the characters say it. Even the score created by Rutger Reinders was beautifully made for the film and even though you could only hear it during crucial moments in the film it didn’t intrude the narrative at all. It added to the film and was refreshing to hear compared to all of the diegetic sounds the film is made up of from the daily actions the characters carry out such as farming, chopping wood, and house chores.

  • Director: Rebecca Daly
  • Written by:Rebecca Daly and Glenn Montgomery
  • Starring: Vincent Romeo, Lars Brygmann, Clara Rugaard
  • Run Time: 1hr and 41min
  • Released: November 9th, 2018

Review by Ren Canga a Dublin based Cinematographer

Good Favour Trailer