Perfect Parents
It portrays the dramatic story of a young girl named Lucy (Madeleine Garrood) that was brought up by her atheist parents, Stuart (Christopher Eccleston) and Alison (Susannah Harker)[1] and their ensuing navigation of the ethical dilemmas that arose in their extreme efforts to secure her acceptance into a prestigious Catholic educational institution.
The satirical film directed by Joe Ahearne outlines the prevalence of an increasing prioritisation of our children's education and protectionist parenting strategies in modern society.
It emphasises the extreme lengths that parents will resort to in order to enable their child to be educated at prestigious schools such as St Mary of the Veil and to ensure a safe learning environment for them.
The dichotomy of absolute and relative morality is examined in the film through a series of dubious parenting decisions surrounding the educational development of their child with no clear ethical pejoratives provided for the audience's discernment.
Lucy has been raised as an atheist but her parents decide the only school they can only afford is St Mary of the Veil, which is managed by a group of nuns with a preference for traditional Catholic families to maintain their exclusivity, given the lengthy enrolment waiting lists.
Their satirical attempt to depict themselves as devout Catholic believers was highly effective and assisted the progression and success of their daughter's entrance to the desired educational institution.
It satirises the emerging global phenomenon in which parents are going to increasingly extreme lengths to ensure that their children are able to receive entry to highly competitive schools and also the priceless value in their child's safety regardless of the moral implications that may follow.
However, the ethical facade quickly evaporates as she navigates the bent boundaries of moral ambiguity relating to their parenting decisions regarding the future of Lucy's education.
Sister Estonia upheld the high standards of the school but despite her vigilant efforts, there were still loopholes that were successfully exploited to ensure Lucy's entry into the esteemed educational institution.
The recent global ramifications of priestly sins and iniquities have cast a shadow of doubt over the religion and Father Thomas characterises the ethical problems that remain within the Catholic Church.
It depicts several instances where Father Thomas (David Warner) makes questionable decisions regarding the briberies and immoral signing of letters of faith for Atheist parents.
