Bernie Satire

Critics of Bernie have struggled to classify the movie, and viewers would certainly attest to this statement. The movie is placed in the satire genre, but this does not seem necessarily complete. The film is well made and the level that it grips the watcher is almost disturbing. Although the film begins with an unusual opening of a jolly and flamboyant mortician conducting a procedure on a corpse for a guest lecture, Bernie morphs into a dark irony. As he prepares the dead for burial, he explains his ideology behind his work. He addresses and disclaims the frequent questioning of people asking him why he would ever wish to be a mortician. “Their souls are already with the Lord by the time I’m involved. It’s just my way to serve—to take care …show more content…
Interestingly, the scriptwriters paint the protagonist Bernie in a twisted situation of both that of a victim and murderer. Simultaneously, the directors play on the viewers’ pathos and make them feel compelled to view both stances. Thus, they are torn between their moral values and ethics. Is Bernie too good for his own good? He was constantly categorized in a positive sense: “Bernie…had the ability to make the world seem kind. …Bernie made you feel real good about yourself” (Shepherd Project). When he ceaselessly outputs his good nature and pure heart to others, his own characteristics battle with himself. His personality back fires. Perhaps this story based on a true event implies that too much goodness will break an imperfect human being in the end. A dose of imperfection and a handful of flaws is necessary. With the faults within, our beings can strive for a better version of ourselves. Therefore, this story appears to argue that lack of perfection is …show more content…
The folks of Carthage have grown attached to Bernie Tiede and do not wish him to leave the community no matter the situation. Because Bernie is so well liked, it is difficult for the sheriff to enact a fair trial. The people’s mindset is skewed and they attempt to justify Bernie’s actions and minimalize his crime. A café waitress argues, “It’s not as bad as people say it is. He only shot her four times, not five” (imdb). The movie seems to accurately portray the idea that a small town can easily be swayed and that a common mindset, whether right or wrong, can twist a story into what the people want to hear. Scrappy Holmes states, “But in all the years I’ve been doing this for a living, I have never heard of the State seeking a change of venue because the defendant was so well-liked that they couldn’t get a conviction” (imdb). People were shocked that Bernie Tiede could do such a thing because he seemed like the least likely person to commit a murder. This situation can be paralleled with the story of Achan in the Bible. He stole and hid treasure for himself, and the community were dumbfounded when the sin was