Be Good

A stay-at-home father forms a powerful bond with his infant daughter as his working wife grows increasingly resentful of her role in supporting the family in this earnest independent drama from director Todd Looby. Paul (Thomas J. Madden) and Mary (Amy Seimetz) have just become new parents. They’re both completely devoted to their precious daughter Pearl, so when Mary’s maternity leave runs out, she returns to work in order to maintain her benefits. Meanwhile, aspiring screenwriter Paul stays at home with Pearl, using what little down time he has to try and complete his latest script. But with each passing day Paul’s interest in writing fades; with a newborn daughter who depends on him for her every need, his professional aspirations take a back seat to his fatherly duties. As Mary’s growing desire to be a nurturing mother puts the financially-stressed couple at odds, Paul finds himself becoming increasingly irritable, and the stress of parenthood begins to take its toll on both of them.