By Sofia Chatila, Year 11
Dead Poets Society
Dead Poets Society, directed by Peter Weir, is a movie that will forever leave a strong impact that will make you reflect and want to change your own life. It takes place at an all-boys prep school in the 1950s, where all aspects of the school are extremely strict and the students are constantly dealing with a lot of pressure to succeed. The story follows a group of boys whose lives change when they meet their new English teacher, Mr. Keating, portrayed by the Golden Globe award winner, Robin Williams. What makes him so special and different is his style of teaching. He teaches in a way that is completely different and out of the norm compared to other teachers, and he encourages the boys to think for themselves, be creative, and “seize the day.”
One of the things I liked most about the movie is how inspiring Mr. Keating is. He doesn’t want the boys to simply memorize poems, he wants them to feel them and understand that poetry is about self reflection and expressing who you are. He tells them to stand on their desks in order to see the world from a new perspective and regularly challenges them to make their lives extraordinary. Although I do not usually watch older movies, when I watched this movie, I found myself being very appreciative and attentive to how passionate Mr. Keating is.
The main group of boys includes Neil, Todd, Knox, Cameron, and a few others. Each one reacts to Mr. Keating’s lessons differently. Todd, who is shy, unsure of himself and timid, slowly becomes more confident throughout the movie. Neil discovers his love for acting, although it is something his strict father does not approve of. Seeing how each boy grows makes the movie feel even more relatable and real, especially for teenagers and young adults who are still figuring out who they want to be.
The movie gets very emotional at different points, especially when Neil’s relationship with his father becomes overwhelming and complex. The boys love Mr. Keating, but not everyone agrees with his teaching style, and the school eventually blames him for the many problems that occur. Another extremely touching and powerful scene is the final one, where the boys stand on their desks and say “O Captain, my Captain,” as it shows how much Mr Keating means to the boys and his impact on their lives.
Overall, Dead Poets Society is about individuality, courage, friendship, and the importance of finding your own voice. It made me think about how school can sometimes be more about finding your true self than learning, and how one good teacher can change someone’s entire life. I would definitely recommend this movie to anyone who likes emotional but meaningful movies.
