The History Boys (2006)

no doubt - it is more stage than set. but this is one of virtues. because, in strange manner, it does it alive. the acting, the dialogues, the tension - including the sexual tension - the characters who propose models and attitudes , show vulnerabilities and defines the small details who makes in the profound sense teaching. a film who has all - humor and clever script, the best actors and science to use the stereotypes in seductive manner. because it is more a film about dreams and self definition, about courage to give and to inspire the right manner to assume the life. sure, Richard Griffiths is great . but it is not a surprise. the good point is the wise balance between themes and portraits and styles. and the optimistic message. maybe, a film about school. but , more important, a film about freedom making.

Set in the early Eighties, THE HISTORY BOYS looks at the fate of a group of boys preparing for the Oxbridge examination in a context where they are forced into succeeding. Felix, the head teacher (Clive Merrison) is so obsessed with the need for success that he engaged part-time history teacher Irwin (Stephen Campbell Moore) to work with his boys, even if that means eroding some of the teaching time normally occupied by maverick Hector (Richard Griffiths). Based on a Royal National Theatre success, Alan Bennett's screenplay looks at what "education" actually means; does it actually consist simply of learning information so as to pass exams, or is it a process of lifelong learning? Hector certainly embraces the latter cause, but his ideas are not necessarily embraced by the boys, especially ambitious go-getter Dakin (Dominic Cooper). The screenplay also looks at the subject of homosexuality in schools, memorably addressed in Eighties films such as ANOTHER COUNTRY (1982). In THE HISTORY BOYS Bennett takes a sympathetic view: many teachers - including Hector and Irwin - are often frustrated by the need to sustain a respectable facade, even if that means repressing their sexual instincts. This repression often leads to the breaking of taboos - for example, abusing the boys. On the other hand the boys themselves are equally repressed, partly by an educational culture that imposes certain ideals of masculinity on them (to be 'successful' you must also be good with women), and partly by the belief that homosexuality is a disease. Posner (Samuel Barnett), the smallest of the scholarship boys, experiences this conflict most acutely. In the end the film calls for a more liberal point of view: while moral standards should be sustained, perhaps educational cultures could be more accommodating towards those - learners and educators alike - who desire to be different.

I give this film an Alan Partridge-esque "a mixed bag" rating. Some of it is good some of it not so much. I don't normally watch films but I saw it was an Alan Bennett film (or at least based on his play) and I knew he was some sort of renown playwright so I was expecting something a step up from a McDonalds burger and that's what I got. The downside for me was all the homosexual stuff, if I wanted a film about that I'd watch gay porn, unnecessary I though. The interesting stuff was coaching the boys to take a step up the rotten class system, and some alternative views on history which I can see has upset some here who get their history lessons from Saving Ryan's Privates, but that's good I guess, thought provoking! I had to keep switching over to see if Jake Bugg was on iTunes 2013 yet so I missed bits and pieces. It is perhaps relevant to the extend that the chances of someone like Bugg every going to Oxford lies somewhere between zero and minus infinity!!The film gropes at pupil teacher sex (albeit homosexual)and the consequences which I suppose has some merit. I would not say it was captivating but I would watch it again to see the bits I missed. Obviously with it being a play it is mainly dialogue and it has a fair bit of humour in it, particularly teacher v class banter. Can't really say I felt much empathy with the characters though.It was interesting that the guy with no academic ability got selected because his father once worked at the Oxford, stuck a chord with me as I remember being interviewed at Bristol Uni and being told I was one of the few people who got a particular question on electronics (my course) right. Interesting in that they still rejected me!! Bastards!! I noticed all the other candidate were far posher than me too, I guess I lost points for unbuttoning my collar on a boiling hot day. The other candidates looked like stuck up snooty bank clerks, they were no doubt all given offers despite being unable to answer a question which required some real intelligence rather than coaching. I received no coaching from my 'could not care less' comprehensive obviously.So the unfairness of the whole process is quite interesting, the double standards, the real world aspect. Yea so it is pretty clever overall and pretty honest, you see the stuff which is usually swept under the carpet.I initially gave it a 7 but realised it deserved more hence I gave 8 but finally 10 because it is worth watching and ultimately there are only two film categories total crap or worth watching and it is the latter. Let's face it who watches 7/10ths of a film? First film I have watched in years, I am not a film person really so surprised I am writing a review!!I had expected it to be like the Dead Poets Society but the is no literary romance here (just some gay romance) and there is no great acting except in the sense of making ordinary pupils and staff look ordinary. I felt no emotional attachment to any of the characters, they are not from my working class world, they share non of my values, they are all human shells with nothing of value inside, they are not from my planet.So there it is, my first and maybe my last film review so be gentle with me.As I started off giving what would be Alan Partridge's opinion of the film, I feel for the purpose of balance, it is only fair to give what would be the opinion of his alter ego Paul Calf, which would of course be, "a bag of shite".Interesting perhaps how both Alan and Paul use the 'bag' analogy, neither being tainted by the overly verbose and flowery language used by those with nothing of value to say.I have no doubt Paul would be heading for the nearest bar within ten minutes, and who could blame him?

It is worth noting that if you were a victim of abuse in your childhood this movie is not for you.The lack of appropriate action taken against the abuser in question as well as the displays of sexual harassment have the potential to upset viewers."The History Boys" handles the issue of the true value of literature well and challenges the audience in much the same way as "The Dead Poets Society". However, this theme is regularly eclipsed by the exploration of the sexual misconduct of one of the teachers. My review is this: if you are someone who was abused by another person in authority over you and that abuse was not stopped (despite it being known by more senior people) this movie will just be distressing for you.