We hear the term “entertainment value” attributed to a particular movie or TV show as an assessment of how well it amuses us, moves us emotionally, or even distracts us from the stresses of daily living. But the very best storytelling—whether it’s spoken, written, or presented in images—not only entertains us, it also enlightens us and helps us better understand ourselves and our world. To me, that’s the value of entertainment. So, to paraphrase the subtitle of And Now for the Good News, I look forward to sharing with you movies and television shows—present and past—that will inform, inspire, and fill you with optimism.
To start us off, I’d like to tell you about a powerful movie that I saw at the recent Chicago International Film Festival. “Poor Boy’s Game,” a new Canadian production, is the latest feature by upcoming director Clement Virgo. Set in Halifax, Nova Scotia, one of the few overtly segregated communities in a nation otherwise known for its tolerance and cultural diversity, the film tells the story of a white boxer (Rossif Sutherland) who is released from prison after serving time for an especially brutal assault on a young black man (K.C. Collins). Upon returning home a rehabilitated man, he must nevertheless confront the ghosts of his past on both sides of the racial line, most notably the father of his assault victim (Danny Glover).
However, despite such tense circumstances, as the story plays out, all involved realize that their old ways of addressing their issues and differences no longer work; solutions that were once employed unquestioningly are suddenly ineffective and inappropriate, and new measures are needed if things are ever to change. All of the film’s principals try out alternative approaches, some of which don’t work but most of which do. What’s most important, though, is that the once-entrenched characters are willing to make the effort to explore new means for handling such matters as anger, violence, vengeance, victimhood, responsibility, tolerance, and, most importantly, forgiveness. And it all ultimately gets sorted out in the realm of sports, culminating in a suspense-filled climax that will keep viewers guessing—and glued to their seats—right up until the end.
“Poor Boy’s Game” has been making the film festival circuit for the most part thus far, so finding it may take a little effort, but it’s well worth it. It’s refreshing to see a group of once-intractable characters entertain new ideas and to see their efforts presented in a film that never passes judgment on them. It also helps that this is all wrapped up in such a riveting and entertaining package. What the players in this drama take away from their experience—and what we as viewers take away from witnessing it—is nothing short of inspiring.
(“Poor Boy’s Game” – 2007; Rossif Sutherland, Danny Glover, Flex Alexander, K.C. Collins, Greg Bryk, Tonya Lee Williams, Laura Regan, Stephen McHattie, Wes Williams; Clement Virgo, director; Chaz Thorne and Clement Virgo, screenplay.)
