In the middle of the first decade of the new century, Ben Affleck ventured into film direction for the first time with ‘Goodbye Little Girl, Goodbye’ (2007), an adaptation of the novel of the same name by Dennis Lehane, author of ‘Mystic River’. The film follows the story of private detectives Patrick Kenzie and Angela Gennaro, played respectively by Casey Affleck and Michelle Monaghan. The plot revolves around the disappearance of Amanda McCready, a four-year-old girl, in one of the most dangerous neighborhoods in Boston.. As they investigate, Kenzie and Gennaro confront a tangled labyrinth of lies, corruption, and morality that tests not only their professionalism, but also their personal principles. Amanda’s disappearance could be related to a complex web of secrets that involves the police and the girl’s own relatives. The film is currently available in the Netflix catalog, although it will leave the platform on June 14, 2024.
The film was well received on the international awards circuit and film festivals. The film received an Oscar nomination for Amy Ryan in the category of Best Supporting Actress., but actress Tilda Swinton was the one who finally lifted the statuette thanks to her work in ‘Michael Clayton’ (2007). This nomination was also repeated at the Golden Globes and the Screen Actors Guild Awards. Although it failed to win any statuette at these major ceremonies, the film won several awards at smaller festivals and critics’ associations.
The film stands out for its authentic atmosphere and careful art direction, which perfectly capture the rawness and gloomy atmosphere of the Boston slums.. Ben Affleck’s novel direction was met with praise for its ability to create tension and maintain narrative pacing, while the cinematography provides a dark, realistic tone that complements the narrative tension. The script, co-written by Ben Affleck and Aaron Stockard, faithfully adapts Lehane’s novel, respecting its complexity and depth. The cast, led by Casey Affleck and Michelle Monaghan, includes proven industry performers such as Morgan Freeman, Ed Harris and Amy Ryan.
For location selection, Ben Affleck insisted on filming in the real Boston neighborhoods where the novel takes place, rather than recreating them in studios or using location doubles. In addition to adding authenticity to the film, this also helped the actors immerse themselves in their characters by being able to enter the same environment as their characters. During filming, local residents participated as extras, which increased the realism and cultural depth of the scenes. In addition, Casey Affleck, the director’s brother, lived in these neighborhoods for a time to better understand his character.
If internationally critics like Peter Travers for Rolling Stone defined it as a “fascinating thriller”, Fotogramas’ review of ‘Goodbye, little one, goodbye’ He stressed the good work behind the cameras: “Affleck plays to show a reality that is anything but pleasant based on a case with unusual coincidences with the missing girl Madeleine, but also a deep moral conflict that will force the viewer to distance himself ( or not) with respect to what is narrated; to participate, in some way, in the final decision that the rather unconventional detective will make.”
