Good: an exploration of violence, compassion, humility, and humanity

A Documentary Film Project

Documentaries often seek to humanize – Good is different, because it’s changing the idea of who we can learn from.

Good is a documentary film that hopes to foster reflection, compassion, and connection by expanding our perception of harm and mental health. The film challenges commonly held notions of good and bad, and aims to inspire progress in how we see, think about, and approach human complexity — moving beyond static two-dimensional identities and frameworks towards a more humble and hopeful understanding of humanity. By examining harm in its broadest sense, both visible and invisible, active and passive, justified and condemned, Good aims to transcend stereotypes, sensationalism, and us/them worldviews — serving as a mirror while offering new paths forward.

Through thoughtful conversation with a diverse group of people, the film dives into complex but heartfelt territory, exploring the contours of violence, learning from the courage and wisdom of those who’ve held onto hope and compassion despite the odds, and drawing on the lessons of art, music, nature, and history. In a world fraught with suffering and division, Good invites us to look at one another with fresh eyes, towards a more compassionate and connected future.

We look forward to sharing this work with you!

  • If only it were all so simple. If only there were evil people somewhere insidiously committing evil deeds, and it were necessary only to separate them from the rest of us and destroy them. But the line dividing good and evil cuts through the heart of every human being. And who is willing to destroy a piece of his own heart?

    Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn

  • The most dangerous psychological mistake is the projection of the shadow on to others; this is the root of almost all conflicts.

    Carl Jung

  • Compassion is not a relationship between the healer and the wounded. It's a relationship between equals. Only when we know our own darkness well can we be present with the darkness of others. Compassion becomes real when we recognize our shared humanity.

    Pema Chödrön

  • It is not enough to follow the heart. We must train it.

    Ajahn Sumedho