FILM3322 · Fine Arts

A Lament for Justice: Good and Evil in Film

Morrissey College of Arts & Sciences

Throughout the course, we will interpret encounters with good and evil, through analyses of film-making techniques and adaptations of narrative in a range of films from tragic to comic. As laments for justice, these films memorialize our fascination of good and evil, the bittersweet twists of fate and the flaws of human nature. We easily identify with the forces of good, while separating ourselves from the forces of evil, counting ourselves among the righteous, yet remaining intrigued by the triumphs of the wicked. How do filmmakers approach this conflict in our nature, in order to manipulate our emotions, and leave us asking questions about our own choices, decisions, and responsibilities? Including classic and contemporary films, such as The Godfather, Apocalypse Now, and The Invention of Lying.