
I Am a Good Person/I Am a Bad Person
When a mother and daughter tour film festivals in Europe and decide to part ways, they must confront life-changing choices alone, before returning home.
Insights
Plot Summary
Filmmaker Kirsten Johnson embarks on a deeply personal journey to understand her father, a retired Jehovah's Witness elder and retired professor of ethics. Through archival footage, interviews, and reflections, she explores his complex moral framework and its impact on their family. The documentary delves into themes of faith, doubt, personal responsibility, and the challenging questions of what it means to be a good person.
Critical Reception
The film was widely praised by critics for its intimate and thought-provoking exploration of complex ethical and familial themes. Reviewers commended Kirsten Johnson's directorial skill in weaving together personal narrative with broader philosophical inquiries. Audiences found the documentary emotionally resonant and intellectually stimulating.
What Reviewers Say
- A profoundly intimate and intellectually stimulating documentary.
- Explores complex ethical questions through a deeply personal lens.
- Praised for its honest and vulnerable approach to faith and family.
Google audience: Google users overwhelmingly praised the film for its emotional depth and the thought-provoking nature of its exploration into morality and familial relationships. Many appreciated the filmmaker's personal courage in tackling such complex subjects.
Awards & Accolades
Nominated for the Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival.
Fun Fact
The film was originally conceived as a way for Kirsten Johnson to understand her father's decision to leave the Jehovah's Witnesses faith, but it evolved into a broader exploration of ethics and morality.
AI-generated overview · Verify ratings on official sources