McIntyre, Film Title for In a Better World

In a Better World tells a unique story, contrasting a present story of two boys who become friends through bullying and a past story of one of the boys' fathers, Anton, a doctor in Africa who treats people oppressed by dictators and military overlords as well as the oppressive figures themselves. The movie tells a deep story, delving deep into the backstories of its characters. Anton's son's friend has lost his mother. We see glimpses of some of the bullies' violent parents. The whole movie presents two stories from several different angles, telling the story of people trying desperately to reconcile their past with their present and live.

In a Better World is a Danish film. Like many foreign movies, the English title differs from the original title. The Danish title of In a Better World translates into "Revenge." While extremely different from the English title, it's easy to see how the movie could be entitled Revenge. Anton's son and his friend become friends when the friend is bullied and Anton's son threatens one of the bullies with a knife. The boys are upset that good people like them and Anton are taken advantage of. They form a plan for revenge and in a way, become bullies themselves. Juxtaposing that action with the situation Anton experienced in Africa is very effective; the cycle of violence exists everywhere and can spin out of control more easily than usually construed, especially when violence is met with violence.

However, In a Better World also finds the brighter side of the situation, largely through the progression of Anton's character from past to present. In an evocative scene, he fights the bully by taking his hits and telling his boys afterwards that the man had done the worst he could do and he still came out victorious. He tells them that the blows didn't hurt. By trying to pass that knowledge along to his sons, Anton makes a change in a quickly-changing situation and serves as an example to his sons. The English version of the film capitalizes on this part of the movie, I believe, for two reasons--first, a movie called Revenge = was already made in America in 1990. Second, Americans in particular are used to movies with happy endings or some kind of closure. Foreign movies tend to not do as well in America due to the fact that they are foreign and Americans may not be familiar with the actors or may not want to read the dubbing. The title is therefore a good marketing plan to fit the audience in America.

Truthfully, either title works. I'm glad that both titles exist because they offer different perspectives on the same situation--always a good thing. However, I feel that Revenge, the Danish title, is more appropriate for the movie because it fits the powerful and important message that the movie has. It sets the tone for such a message.