Official Synopsis
They were known simply as “The Lost Boys.”
Orphaned by the brutal civil war in Sudan, which began in 1983, these young victims traveled as many as a thousand miles on foot in search of safety. Fifteen years later, a humanitarian effort would bring 3,600 lost boys, as well as girls, to America.
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Mamere and Theo are sons of the Chief in their village in Southern Sudan. When an attack by the Northern militia destroys their home and kills their parents, eldest son Theo is forced to assume the role of Chief and lead a group of young survivors, including his sister Abital, away from harm. But the hostile, treacherous terrain has other dangers in store for them. As the tattered group makes the difficult trek to Kakuma refugee camp in Kenya, they meet other fleeing children, forging a bond with Jeremiah, who, at 13, is already a man of faith, and Paul, whose skills become essential to their survival.
Thirteen years later, the now young adults are given the opportunity to leave the camp and resettle in America. Upon arriving in Kansas, they are met by Carrie Davis (Witherspoon), an employment agency counselor who has been enlisted to help find them jobs—no easy task, when things like light switches and telephones are brand new to them.
Although Carrie has successfully kept herself from any emotional entanglements, these refugees, who desperately require help navigating the 21st century and rebuilding their shattered lives, need just that. So Carrie embarks on her own unchartered territory, enlisting the help of her boss, Jack (Corey Stoll).
This movie was tough to watch because of how brutal the Sudan civil war was and what people had to do to not only save their lives, but ensure their legacies.
The Good Lie starts out right where it should, we’re introduced to Theo, Jeremiah, Mamere, Paul and Abital. All from the same village and all caught in the brutal Sudanese war that would push them to the brink of survival. After having their village pretty much destroyed by a Sudanese army, they find themselves on foot on the way to Kenya (nearly 1000 miles). Along the way, they have to escape multiple troops and find a way to physically survive the harsh terrain on their way to safety and freedom.
The first act is amazing. Seeing what these kids have to do to survive and what cost that ends up being (one of their own gets captured — Theo), pretty much sets the story out on the right foot, though it is very tragic. My only complaint with this part of the film, and it’s something that ripples through the rest, is that I wish it had been a bit longer. I know that sounds incredibly shitty, but if you truly want to appreciate act two and three, then you have to make the first act (their struggle) deep, detailed and harsh. You have to drive home exactly how bad things had gotten. Granted, it sounds cruel to want more tragedy in the film, but to make the rest of the story really hit home with the viewers and make them appreciate and understand the group’s struggle, this has to be your longest and worst part.
If you make it the big priority, then the emotional value of the rest of the movie is upped quite a bit. Again, it sounds shallow, but if your intent is to send out a message to the audience about the situation that the group goes through, then this is the best way to do it.
Anyway, as act two begins, we find our group in Kenya inside a refugee camp. They are on a list to go to America and start a new life, which they do. The entire act two is showing the ups and downs for the group, including the separation anxiety that they have with their sister, Abital. She has gone to live with a family in Boston against the guys’ will, so they feel a bit disjointed throughout act two.
Act two is fun, though a bit sad. Director Philippe Falardeau does a great job with balancing out humor, morals and brings out the loneliness the group feels, as they are getting accustomed to life in the United States. Along the way, Reese Witherspoon’s Carrie, a person trying to get the group jobs and help them start life, brings small doses of reality to the group and slowly softens her hard shell to help out the guys, which changes her disorganized life as well. The transition is a bit messy for both character parties, but it seems to smooth out by the start of act three and ends up producing a very touching ending (I won’t say how it ends, but it ends happy/sad).
The story told in The Good Lie is one that is courageous, amazing, but at times a bit unbalanced and disorganized. The overall product is understood, but it could have been so much better. On a side note, I had no idea that a civil war happened in Sudan, but this will have me going to explore that story of woe. In the meantime, The Good Lie is worth your time. Check it out.
Another gorgeous Warner Home Video transfer to Blu-ray. The tales of two different tones drives the quality. When the film is in Africa, you get a yellow, red and brown set of tones. They compliment the wildness of the terrain and the harshness of the situation in the movie. When the group makes it to America, the tones shift to a more gray, blue and black/white set of tones. They help to reinforce the loneliness of the group and the ultimate liberation of their situation towards the end. Overall, the quality is very good for this film transfer. There aren’t any artifacts, compression issues or picture problems. Again, another excellent WHV transfer to Blu-ray.
The audio comes to you in DTS-HD 5.1 and the aspect ratio of the film is 1.85:1.
As for features, here’s what you’re looking at:
– The Good Lie Journey
– Deleted Scenes
Not a lot here in quantity, but definitely some quality stuff that backs up the movie a bit. Not bad for the movie you’re getting.