The Good Lie Documentary Analysis

Social Trends and Challenges in Film: The Good Lie Anthropology is the study of human societies, cultures and development in the past and present (J. Henderson, personal communication, September 6th 2016). The culture and environment an individual adapts to plays a huge role on their developing personality and beliefs. It is difficult for a person to suddenly adjust to a culture that they are unaware of. The following, is apparent in the film "The Good Lie" as the fortunate siblings from Sudan get chosen to go to America to live a privileged life. However, they have a hard time adapting to the new environment. The society they used to live in, involved people getting killed every day or people suffering from illnesses. They never expected

Conformity has been a target towards the siblings throughout the film because the American immigration program, USRA separated Abital from her brothers and placed her with a family in Boston. According to the American Employment of Agency, counselor Carrie Davis said that it is not proper for 3 men to stay with a women in American Society. However, on the other hand in Sudan the 4 siblings were able to live together without any restrictions. In an article, it stated that many cultures will differentiate men and women in some ways because that is how cultures are organized (Challenge and Change in Society 39). The 3 brothers had struggled to adjust to the American environment, food and the attitudes of people. For instance, in the film Mamere asked Carrie Davis “Where is your village?" This statement proves that the siblings were confused about the American society and had no idea how to engage in the new society. They were too attached to their hometown and cultural beliefs. Even though their hometown was a dangerous place to live in, they still missed their cultural traditions their brother Theo, who was taken by the soldiers when they were young. Therefore, it is evident that the development in the new culture and

Henderson, personal communication, September 6th 2016). In several societies some individuals might have different beliefs and behaviours than others. This situation is definitely apparent in the film "The Good Lie" where the four siblings call Theo and Mamere as chiefs which means that they are known as a leader of their family. But when they asked Carrie about who was the chief in America she looked very confused because they is no such thing as Chiefs in America. This part is an example of conformity and alienation because the new society that they try to adapt to is not aware of their traditional beliefs from Sudanese. An article stated that humans tend to be social animals which mean they tend to live in groups (Challenge and Change in Society 36). In the film Mamere, Jeremiah, Abital, Paul and Theo live together when they were children just like animals. However, they wanted to live together in America but Abital and Theo get separated from their siblings. Social conformity was shown through Paul's perspective because he got influenced in taking drugs by his work mates. This change was not a positive change in his life which why it was shown as conformity and alienation. Overall, the social conformity and alienation in the American society has been clearly stated through the experiences in each character in the