TO SIR, WITH LOVE

Dissertation Submitted To The University Of Madras

In Partial Fulfilment Of Requirement For
The Degree Of Bachelor of Science Electronic Media

BY
RADHIKA RAMANUJAM
1409134

DEPARTMENT OF ELECTRONIC MEDIA

M.O.P VAISHNAV COLLEGE FOR WOMEN

(AUTONOMOUS)

CHENNAI-600034

2016-2017
 DECLARATION

I hereby declare that this thesis on TO SIR, WITH LOVE is the outcome of my own study
undertaken under the guidance of Dr. Sandhya Rajasekhar, faculty Advisor and Ms.
Meenakshi N, Head, Department of Electronic Media, M.O.P VAISHNAV COLLEGE FOR
WOMEN (AUTONOMOUS). It has no previously formed the basis for the award of any
degree, diploma or certificate of this institute or any other institute or university. I have duly
acknowledged all the source used by me in the preparation of this dissertation.

RADHIKA RAMANUJAM

1409134
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I wish to express our warm and heartfelt thanks to our Principal, Dr. Lalitha Balakrishnan.
I would also like to thank Ms.Meenakshi N, Head, Department of Electronic Media. I
would also like to thank our Project Guide Dr. Sandhya Rajasekhar for giving us an
opportunity to work on this thesis and giving us timely assistance in the course of this thesis.
 CONTENT

CHAPTER TITLE PAGE

1 INTRODUCTION 6

2 REVIEW OF LITERATURE 12

3 METHODOLOGY 22

4 ANALYSIS 25

5 CONCLUSION 32

Annexure A REFERANCE 35

Annexure B TABLE OF ANALYSIS 38

Annexure C PLAGARISM 55
CHAPTER 1

INTRODUCTION
HOW CINEMA BEGAN

Cinema, also called movie, motion picture, theatrical play, or photo play, is based on the
concept of phi phenomena, which is perceiving or visualising a set of moving or rapidly
successive series of still images as continuous motion. Max Wertheimer, one of the founders
of Gestalt Psychology, alias psychological closure came up with this phenomenon and gave it
a definition in 1912.
The process of film production, is a part of both art and culture, and a huge show business-
slanged showbiz. it is created by photographing actual scenes and shots with a motion picture
camera and by juxtaposing and rearranging them during the process of editing. Based on
Requirements, Animation-photographing cartoons, minions, and models and adding them to
visuals using traditional animation techniques (Stop Motion, Computer Generated or
Mechanical); Character generated Imagery -who can forget "Shrek"- creating images in art,
printed media, video games, films etc. using computer graphics; or by using all of these
methods and some other visual effects.

HISTORY OF FILM MAKING

The magic lantern probably created by Christiaan Huygens in the 1650's was perceived to
project animation, which was achieved by various types of mechanical slides. traditionally,
two slides: one slide consisting of the stationary pictures and the other slide that was set in
motion, was placed one over the other, then the moving slide was manually operated, directly
or mechanically, say by means of a lever. Chromotrope slides, were the commonly used
apparatus then, operated by means of a small crank and pulley wheel that rotated a glass disc,
which produced abstract geometric shapes and colours
Sallie Gardener at a Gallop is one of the earliest films technically speaking. Made on the
most primitive technology, it is a series of photographs consisting of a galloping horse, the
result of a photographic experiment conducted by Eadweard Muybridge on June 15, 1857. It
is sometimes sited as early silent film and the series and later experiments were considered
forerunners to the development of motion films.

PERSISTENCE OF VISION

There were many such equipment in the early 20th century that demonstrated the perception
of vision and phi phenomena vividly, such as such as Joseph Plateau's phenakistoscope and
then later zoetrope; they both demonstrated that a carefully designed sequence of drawings
showing closely related phases of the changing appearances of objects in motion, would
actually appear to show the objects moving, if they were displayed one after the other at a
sufficiently rapid rate- this rate being called frames per second (fps) that would determine the
dynamism in the motion. This is also called the flipbook effect. Back then each sequence was
limited to only a certain small number of drawing say 12, so that it could endlessly display
cyclic motions.
The last major device of this type, which came by the end of the 19th century was the
praxinoscope, which had been detailed to the form that employed a long, coiled band
containing hundreds of images painted on glass and used the essentials of a magic lantern to
project them onto a screen.

FIRST MOTION PICTURES

The end of the 19th century saw the advent of celluloid photographic film, and the invention
of motion picture cameras, which could photograph an indefinitely long sequence of images
using only one lens, thus allowing several moments of action to be captured and to be stored
on a reel of film. some early films were to be viewed by one single person at a time through a
peep show device such as the Kinetoscope, an invention by Thomas Alva Edison and his
assistant W.L Dickson. it was designed for viewing by one person at a time through a
peephole window at the-An Ardent Kamal Hassan fan might remember watching this in his
blockbuster Michael Madana Kamarajan, which begins with children watching the film. The
Kinetoscope introduced the basic approach that would become the benchmark for all
cinematic projection before the advent of video, creating the persistence of vision effectively.
The first kinetoscope invented by Edison and Dickson, had 46 frames per second which was
even faster than a regular camera. Others were intended for the projector, which was
mechanically similar to a camera, and sometimes actually the same machine, which was used
to flash strong light through the processed and printed film onto the processed and printed
films and into a projected lens so that the moving pictures could be showed humongous
magnified on a screen for an entire audience to view. The first legitimate screenings of films
for which audience admission was levied were made in late 19th century by the American
Woodville Latham and his sons, on films produced by their company and the more Famous-
French "Lumière Brothers"-Auguste and Loius Lumière, with almost a dozen of their own
productions.

EVOLUTIONS, ENHANCEMENTS, AND DEVELOPMENTS

The early films were statically shot that showed an event or action sans effects, cuts, or
transitions. Editing was non-existent so to say. At the bend of the 20th century, films were
made as a set of several subsequential scenes strung together. the scenes were later
fragmented into multiple shots photographed from various distances and angles. Camera
movement such as dolly, panning, handheld camera and truck became prominent. until the
late 1920's, sound films were purely visual art, but these pioneering silent films had had a
strong impact on the public's imagination. Accompanying music was provided by a hired
pianist or organist, (or even a full orchestra that played appropriate music to suite the mood)
provided lilt to the background score.
The World War saw the rise of many Film movements and montages that had deep rooted
themes and styles highlighting their origin. While some movements like the Soviet Montage
criticised Hollywood for their utopian style of film making Like Battleship of Potemkin and
end of St, Petersburg, some like the German Expressionism censored the World war as an
event that left disastrous consequences worldwide. Films like "Cabinet of Dr Caligary" by
Robert Wiene is considered to be the precursor to today's horror cinema, with handheld
camera style. and animated abrupt jerky action, marking the devastating post war days. the
Film industry in the united states flourished in the growth of Hollywood epitomized most
significantly by the innovative work of D. W. Griffith - The Birth of a Nation (1915) and
Intolerance (1916). the Soviet Montage also tagged along with it some very basic principle of
editing proposed by Lev Kuleshov which fundamentally proposes to juxtapose shots leading
to an implied meaning. The famous "Shower Scene" in the psycho-thriller "Psycho” (1960) is
a tribute to the effect as the dead woman's eyeballs are juxtaposed, what is called match-cut
today, with the blood trickling in the drain.
In the mid-20th century the development of electronic sound and music recording
technologies made it possible to incorporate a sound track consisting of recorded voice,
music, and sound effects, synchronised with onscreen action. the sound resulting films were
differentiated from their silent counterparts "moving silent movies" or simply "movies" and
were called the talking films or talkies. The first feature film originally presented as a talkie
was The Jazz Singer, released in October 1927.-again a vitaphone marvel. It was also the first
film made with synchronized sounds released as a talkie. The Warner Brothers garnered huge
response to their trademark "Vitaphone sound"-and it stayed a USP to them till 1928 in all
their upcoming films as well. The revolution was swift: By 1930's, silent films were extinct in
the states.
The introduction of Natural colour was indeed a remarkable development. it meant colour
was photographically recorded from nature rather than altered by additive or subtractive
methods-added to black and white prints by hand colouring, stencil-colouring or other
arbitrary procedures. The crucial improvement was the introduction of the three-strip version
of the Technicolor process, first used for animated cartoons (1932), then also for live-action
short films, then for an entire feature film, "Becky Sharp", in 1935.

LATER DVELOPEMENTS

In the early 1950's, an attempt was made to make people "hit the theatres", bigger screens
were installed, widescreen processes, polarized 3D projection, and stereophonic sound were
introduced.-method of simulating sound creating an enhanced feeling of hearing. Overtime,
colour television also became available, gradually in lesser prices. The overwhelming public
verdict in favour of colour was clear. Soon all films were “coloured”-except in films by
honcho directors-Martin Scorsese for instance. The decades to come saw rapid decline of the
studio system in the 1960s and saw changes in the style of films produced. Various New
Wave movements (including the French New Wave, Indian New Wave, Japanese New Wave,
and New Hollywood) and the rise of film-school-educated independent filmmakers
contributed to the changes experienced in the latter half of the 20th century. Digital
technology has been the motivating force for change throughout the 1990s and into the21st
century. Digital 3D projection replaced earlier tacky 3D film systems and has become
popular in the early 2010s.

HOLLYWOOD CINEMA-BEGINNING

The cinema of the united states is referred to as Hollywood, and has had a profound Global
impact since early 20th century. Since the early 20th century, the U.S. film industry has been
centred in and around Hollywood, Los Angeles, California. The advent of the industry saw
the construction of the first motion picture studio in West Orange, New Jersey, called the
"Black Maria", By Thomas Alva Edison, at the end of the 19th century. Lesser costs near the
Hudson River meant priced lands, across the river, with more and more studios flocking in,
such as the Metro Goldwyn Bothers, and this ensured the phenomenal growth of the film
industry at the turn of the 20th century

RISE OF HOLLYWOOD

Hollywood has many starting points to credit its beginning but Griffiths controversial epic
historical film "Birth of a Nation " will always be referred to the start that pioneers the global
filming lexicon. Los Angeles saw the rise in the studios, nay Hollywood. The pre-war times
saw several films being released to document those tumultuous days. In the early 20th
century, many Jewish immigrants found employment in the newly flourishing business, and
had the opportunity to highlight talent in a brand-new business called the nickelodeons, after
their admission price to a nickel. Within a couple of years, many well-known stalwarts in the
media industry, such as Samuel Goldwyn, William Fox, Carle Laemmle Adolph Zukor, and
the Warner Brothers soon became producers and were heading a new business-movie studio
with élan. Post World war saw the entry of many directors from Europe, most notably being
Alfred Hitchcock and Rudolf Valentino. Alongside tagged in a home-grown supply of Actors
to produce the most stellar films that we know today. this led on to form one of the 20th
century's most remarkable growth industries. By mid-40's, annually, billion Americans per
week comprised of the audience.

CLASSICAL HOLLYWOOD CINEMA IN THE SOUND ERA

Sound brought in further enhancements to the visual narrative. the combined effect of sound
and visuals also gave birth to an understanding of genres- Western, slapstick comedy
Musical, animated cartoon, biopic. many great works of cinema, from highly regimented film
making , were born in this period. a good script with a medium budget and relatively
unknown actors was still a good wager to a box office success. Citizen Kane, directed by
Orson Welles and regarded as the most stellar film of all time, fits the bill. it is also often
cited in critics' polls as the best film of all time. In other cases, passionate directors like
Howard Hawks, Alfred Hitchcock and Frank Capra fought the studios to achieve their artistic
visions. studios reached its peak in 1939, when classics like The Wizard of Oz, Gone with the
Wind, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Stagecoach, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, and
many more attained cult status

STYLE

The ideas of the renaissance influenced the style of Hollywood films. The devices used are
primarily continuity editing, 180-degree rule, Elements of Kuleshov rule. the 180-degree rule
keeps with the photographed play style by creating a 180 degree line between the viewer and
the shot and adhering to the line by orienting themselves within the boundaries of that line,
according to position and direction. According to the 30-degree rule, cuts in the angle that the
scene is viewed from must be sufficient enough for the viewer to understand the purpose and
presence of a change in perspective. Cuts that do not adhere to this rule, are called jump cuts,
create abrupt, jagged motion, part of not continuous, but complexity editing. Another
important feature was the narrative logic. Narrative Logic was purely psychological
motivation, as in the resolve of the human character and its effort toward the end, towards a
definite goal. It includes a primary narrative-romance intertwined with a secondary narrative
-a motive, agenda business or crime. It was structured with a beginning, middle and end, and
there was a definite resolve. Actors, events, casual effects, main and secondary points were
utilised to the fullest. the characters have characteristic traits, active, and goal oriented

NEW HOLLYWOOD

The emergence of a new generation of "film school-trained" directors who had novel film
making styles, marked this era. It developed in Europe in 1960; Bonnie and Clyde 1967, gave
rise to American cinema rebounding as well as a new making of films would later on gain
success at the box offices as well. Renowned filmmakers like Francis Ford Coppola, Steven
Spielberg, George Lucas, Martin Scorsese, Roman Polanski, and William Friedkin were
raking moolahs on new age Genres and Techniques
By the 1970s, the films of New Hollywood filmmakers were often both critically acclaimed
and commercially thriving The enormous success enjoyed by Friedkin with The Exorcist,
Spielberg with Jaws, Coppola with The Godfather and Apocalypse Now, Scorsese with Taxi
Driver, Kubrick with 2001: A Space Odyssey, Polanski with Chinatown, and Lucas with
American Graffiti and Star Wars-huge numbers flocked in to pay homage to these pieces of
vérité cinéma, While the early New Hollywood films like Bonnie and Clyde and Easy Rider
relatively low on budget productions were having their own demography. The term block
buster was thus coined, with these big-number-gamers and formula films doing the rounds.

MODERN CINEMA
The motivation to produce a masterpiece on big screen has raked moolahs in the American
film industry ever since. Spectacular stellar have taken advantage of the widescreen
phenomena and have been very popular since the 1950's. Classic blockbusters from this
period include E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, Back to the Future, Beverly Hills Cop, Top Gun,
Wall Street, Rain Man, Forrest Gump, Pulp Fiction, Titanic, The Matrix, The Green Mile,
The Sixth Sense, Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace, Gangs of New York, and
Lord of the Rings.), The Sound of Music (1965), Star Wars (1977), E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
(1982), Jurassic Park (1993), Titanic (1997), Avatar (2009), The Avengers (2012) and 2012,
are stellar hits that Hollywood has contributed to
American independent cinema was rejuvenated in the late 1980s and early 1990s when
another new school of filmmakers including Spike Lee, Steven Soderbergh, Kevin Smith and
Quentin Tarantino made movies like, respectively: Do the Right Thing, Sex, Lies, and
Videotape, Clerks, and Reservoir Dogs.

USE OF CINEMA TO SHOW RACE-HATE

The movie “The Birth of a Nation” by Griffith, which supported the Ku Klux Klansmen-the
white suppremist race that resided in the southern USA. It was the most racist film in that era,
against the blacks. The committee called NAACP- National Association for the Advancement
of Coloured People stepped into force, and tried their best to prohibit the release of the film.
However, the film remains an epic in history. It led to the birth of an industry that was open
to making Race-films based on the conditions of the poor. These films were more uplifting.
The first film that featured blacks in dramatic non-stereotyped roles was “The Realization of
a Negro '5 Ambition” produced by Lincoln Motion Picture Company and was released in
mid-1916. It depicted a Tuskegee University graduate leaving the south and getting hired by
a racist White businessperson for saving his daughter.
Films Like “Lilies of the Field,” “Guess who’s coming to Dinner”, starred Negro actor
Sidney Poitier, who felt he was cut out for roles that depicted him as a black trying to
struggle against racism, and be as successful as a white. Race hate soon became a favourite
post-war topic for film making. The Race Relations Act (1965) was passed in the U.K and
several acts against apartheid were passed in the United States Such as The Civil Rights
movement in 1964 and The Fair Housing Act of 1968. Two of these countries were always
under the scanner for Racism. Cinema has always been an effective means to bring about
global harmony.
CHAPTER 2
 REVIEW OF LITERATURE

Title: Review of “Blackboard Jungle”

Genre: Socio-cultural Teen entertainment

Director: Richard Brooks

Movie: “Blackboard Jungle”

Year: 1955

Author: Ed Mcbain

Blackboard Jungle, amongst others, depicts a not so rosy picture of the vehement struggle
between an encouraging teacher fighting to gain the appreciation from young rebellious and
disorderly students. The story is always stereotyped around a dedicated teacher, on his first
job placed in a harsh ragged inner city shanty school filled with culturally diverse students
who are antagonistic, uninterested, and impolite. adding to this oft repeated, narrated familiar
story to the teacher fighting to relate and associate education to troubled students’ daily lives
in the hopes to boost their standard of living, and see past the nepotism strained horizons in
front of them. The teacher is the only soul to see a goal existent in the otherwise aimless,
socially isolated children. This tough teacher who has seen life encourages them to give
wings to that potential and envision a life beyond gang hooliganism. These films throw light
upon the issues that teachers face with a bunch of misbehaving teenagers at hand and wishes
to give the profession the dignity it is due, and runs on the same beaten track that countless
films like, To Sir, With Love, Stand and Deliver, Dangerous Minds, Freedom Writers have
walked.

The concept of the one and only teacher who is committed to bring about change seems
authentic and brings a freshness in the plot. in an age where the movement for teachers’
rights and self-esteem had been going strong, such themes did bring about freshness ideas in
the society. The way that media portrays this depiction of a teacher entering a classroom full
of hooligans, rebellions, and violence to uncomplainingly and gradually gaining the
admiration of his or her whole class, really empowers many in that line. This outcome,
however seems like the happily ever after of a fairy-tale only touching on an outward solution
without getting to the source of the issue. these films depict the hoodlumism and aggression
very elaborately, however, individual cultures have their own stigmas and guidelines on how
to act.
 These movies bring up the issue of school violence but seem to trivialise it by aiming to say
that the teacher can solve it all. the audience of those days, unlike today, would not want to
watch a depressing movie with an unhappy ending.

As is the climatic inevitability in Hollywood feature films, the narration of Blackboard

Jungle resolves through a fierce in-class altercation between Dadier and West.

The rest of Dadier’s class sides with their teacher, and towards the end of the scene they
accompany Artie to the principal’s office for disciplinary action. With the happy conclusion
having the students’ admiration and side with their teacher only creates a fictional melodrama
ending for a happy watch. The plot lacks credibility due to the fiction and improbability but,
is still a form of visual education in bridging gaps between teachers and students. a really
emotion driven film.
Title: Review of “The Class”

Genre: Socio Cultural Teen Flick

Director: Laurent Cantet

Movie: “The Class”

Year: 2008

Author: Erich Segal

The Class, titled Entre les Murs, in French which in English translates as between the Walls -
is a riveting cinema. Set in a high school in one of the poorer socio-economic parts of
Paris, the class so naturally depicts the classroom interaction between a French man François
Marin. the film barely feels like it has a script. it is so easy flowing, and the performances are
so innate and from the heart, many would consider it a documentary or an art venture

The originality of the film arises from the fact that François is played by François Bégaudeau
-who is actually a teacher, and wrote the semi -autobiographic book sourcing the film.
amateur actors most of whom use their own names and not a pseudonym, play the students
and many scenes are really adlibbed and impromptu. the students are a mix of multiple races,
and are highly cynical about life; every day is a new battle for François to maintain their
obedience, concentration, and control. there are many confrontations and showdown scenes,
depicting how the students try to see to what extent they can push the envelope while he must
somehow maintain his dignity without looking harsh or demeaning. François is not by any
means trying to confirm to stereotypes of an inspiring teacher. yet, he somehow comes off as
a person who wants the best for them the extent he goes to persist maintaining the
camaraderie and the discipline is extraordinary. And as always, under encouragement, the
students begin displaying hidden talents making them noteworthy, and also makes them
empathetic and considerate, despite occasional spells of anger outburst

The film also depicts school life for the teachers when they are not around students. one
scene shows how a new teacher breaking down in the staffroom, he is quite angst. his
colleagues can empathise with him, but know that he has to gather himself up to survive the
onslaught. The staff meeting scene-where the value of a student demeriting the point system
leads on to a heated argument -and takes a rather silly turn into an argument about the coffee
machine, this scene is shot aesthetically and spontaneously. however, to François and his
students steal the thunder and the show belongs to them. it is a stirring moment, when a when
a troubled student encouraged François practises a new way to articulate himself. then there
is also a moment when François lets loose one misguided statement and brings upon himself
an outburst of disdain and resentment from the class.
The class is an engaging piece of cinéma vérité that should be watched by everyone alike,
and especially for someone who has ever questioned the value of a teacher, especially in the
government system.

This is a thoroughly genuine description of an archetypal class, and reveals what school is
like for teachers and students today. it is also an outstanding film that can hold your attention
till the end.
Title: Review of “Parichay”

Genre: Musical family entertainer

Director: Gulzar

Movie: “Parichay”

Year: 1972

Author: R.K Mitra

There are so many scenes in this song that are very noteworthy, like dancing to “Naino mein
sapna” in the presence of pots arranged in puzzling patterns- to playing badminton like an
attempt of wooing, in the “Dhal Gaya Din”, which was also one of the famous memories in
one of the songs of “Om Shanti Om”, 2007, (Dhoom Taana). Jeetendra has been a trend setter
for many scenes and moments in Bollywood. But Parichay has been a totally different genre.
Jeetendra makes his presence in this film as a serene private tutor.

This film by Gulzar has been based on the Bengali Novel “Rangeen Uttarain” by Raj Kumar
Maitra and draws inspiration from the Classic movie “Sounds of Music”. as a matter of
coincidence, a similar Bengali film called Jay Jayanti was released in a year back. The film
seems to have drawn from all the three.

Jeetendra plays Ravi who is a city dweller who can’t afford rent. He is desperately in need of
a job, and he leaves for a village where his maternal uncle and aunt stay. (A.K Hangal and
Leela Mishra). He has a meeting with a pipe-smoking, retired colonel Rai Sahib, played by
popular Sholay villain Pran. He wants discipline, true to his army regiment, but is also in
need of a tutor.

After the death of his alienated son played by Sanjeev Kumar, as well as is Daughter-in-law,
he has the onus to raise his five grandchildren by them. The kids don’t like him, as they feel
his is responsible for their father’s death. They are brattish, uncultured, and stubborn about
going to school. They rebound against all their teachers with guile. There is even a comical
scene where Keshto Mukherjee, their hilariously strict teacher is driven away made to believe
that there is a ghost around.

Ravi steps in this situation, and despite the initial rebellion, he manages to win over the
children, he does not use the “cane” and approaches them in a more humane way, to teach
matters unknown to them. He uses approaches like taking them for an outing, playing carom,
and reintroduces music in the house, which disappoints Rai Sahib. Music becomes the source
of friction in the household, who sees his son’s dedication to music as a shameful pursuit.
The soundtrack has very memorable hits, that are still hummed by many in the 60’s and 70’s,
such as “Hum Kisi se Kum Nahiin” and the epic “Musafir Hoon Yaaron”, soulfully rendered
by Kishore Kumar with its deep meaning, and “Biti na Bitayi Raina” which brought Lata
Mangeshkar a national award.

The movie is definitely a must watch even in today’s times, because of the serenity in the
settings in which it was shot, the screen presence that each actor has had, including the child
actors and the soulful music, that totally complements the film.
Title: Review of “Monsieur Lazhar”

Genre: Sociological teenage drama

Director: Philippe Falardeau

Movie: “Monsieur Lazhar”

Year: 2011

Author: Évelyne de la Chenelière

Monsieur Lazhar is a French-Canadian film, that was nominated for the 2011 foreign
language Oscars, belongs to a different genre of movies celebrating students and teacher’s
relationship. it's not quite a reviving ode to the transformative power of pedagogy akin to
stand and deliver, rather it bears similarity to the class (2008)-it's a quiet, hurtful
contemplation on all the possibilities and boundaries of the teacher student relationship. enter
the title character Algerian immigrant, who arrives in to teach a class of Montreal sixth
graders-to replace their teacher who committed suicide. He e is no inspirational hothead but a
courteous, polite man who can't negotiate his traditions and value systems to the whims and
fancies of 21st century kids.

Bachir Lazhar (Md. Fellag, named just as Fellag in the Credits) expects the students to copy
down from a Balzac novel when Jack London is their pace; when a student acts disrespectful
he casually clouts him on the side of the head.

as rapidly as possible, the school's devoted by exhausted principle (Danielle Proulx) pulls
Bachir to the customs of the current century education: there are stringent policies in the
child's interest, hence a child cannot be touched under any circumstances not even to hug
encouragingly, and the main rule, all mention of the ex-teacher Martine who committed
suicide must be avoided, except, when they'd have periodic visits from the overbearingly
gentle school psychologist.

For most definite reasons, the children's turmoil is beyond measure and Bachir's class is still
haunted by the memories of Martine who, in a bloodcurdling opening scene, is found hanging
in the classroom, by a boy named Simon who is already quite troubled, and another student
Alice who also catches a glimpse of the body on that day, can't help but broach the topic of
Martine's death. Alice’s vocal presentation about the schools honour, gets converted into a
lament for the loss of her teacher, and Simon is revealed to be secretly carrying a picture of
Martine with him. In the second half of the film, it is also revealed that Mr. Lazhar also has
his reasons and losses to mourn about, in a less public but no less grievous way.

Monsieur Lazhar, written and directed by Philippe Falardeau, is a highly intellectual, deeply
moving, and not even a bit sappy or mushy film, both about teaching and collective misery. it
may be tranquil to seem like, will cool shades, chilly backdrop, and a delicate piano score but
the underlying emotions are turbulent and unfathomable. Fellag, who is an Algerian

Monsieur Lazhar, written and directed by Philippe Falardeau, is a sharply intelligent, deeply
sad, and not remotely sappy film about both teaching and collective grief. Its surface may be
still and quiet, with cool colours, wintry landscape, and a delicate piano score, but the
emotions beneath run tumultuous and deep. Fellag, an Algerian comedian and humour writer,
anchors the film as the ineffable Bachir, a man who’s so private that even the third-act
revelation of his back story doesn’t fully explain his motivations to us (nor would we want it
to). The children who play Alice and Simon, Sophie Nélisse and Émilien Néron, are
exceptional in their scenes with him, and even better when they’re alone together. With
almost no words exchanged, we understand how these two are bound by the shared sight of
their teacher’s suspended corpse that awful morning. Monsieur Lazhar—the character as well
as the movie—offers no simple answers to the hard questions Martine’s death poses.

Though it’s different from Dead Poets’ Society by a long shot, Monsieur Lazhar does

ultimately affirm, in its oblique, understated way, the sacredness of the teacher-student
relationship. For an old-fashioned, at times rigid teacher like Bachir, the classroom is a place
where order and formality must rule, not for their own sake but as a bulwark against the
often-incomprehensible chaos and violence of the world outside.  
Title: Review of “Dead Poets Society”

Genre: psychosocial Teenage Drama

Director: Peter Weir

Movie: “Dead Poets Society”

Year: 1989

Author: Tom Schulman

Dead poet’s society aims to explore individualism to a large extent. The several conflicts
faced by the characters in the film validate the fundamental theories of existentialism and
transcendentalism. For example, Neil Perry's suicide, opens us to distressing consequences of
an invidual's authority let loose over tradition. As opposed to the victory of the individuality
-which can have a positive outcome; in the case of Knox Overstreet, a case of
transcendentalism. When Knox is infatuated with a certain "Chris" , who he doesn't even
know about, he risks his all to win her over. In both cases the characters assume authority of
their choices, and through traditional, orthodox authority to the backburner; the set out on a
journey of self-realization and individual growth .

One reason for existentialism is Neil Perry's suicide. When Neil Perry wants to pursue theatre
rather than medicine, his father is furious. He does not take into consideration his son's
terrific performance s Puck "A midsummer Night's dream", but continues on haranguing his
son and dictating all terms and conditions. Neil eventually stands up for his needs but is
unable to articulate his opinions to the conventional, despotic figure in front of him. He finds
suicide to be a better option than continuing to live his dreary life. Though he lost all he had
committing suicide, he managed to live life to the fullest ( ala carpe diem) through this act, he
is in full possession of his life, and as a consequence must accept the results.

Knox would be considered the epitome of transcendentalism and romanticism, because he

understands how important his individuality is when he becomes possessed by the love of
"Chris". Knox like Neil wanted to act by his own intuition, make his own choices. He even
ultimately chose to risk his life by standing up to Chet, Chris's boyfriend, in a romantic
attempt to win Chris's love. His attempts do prove to be effective, Chris goes to the play with
Knox hand in hand. This marks the victory over the authoritarian Chet.

These series of events serve to remind that authority should only function as a guide-not as
the ultimate power, as in case of Neil. One can only find his true self-within himself
There are several circumstances where the characters acted by their volition, intentionally
breaching customs and orders, to pursue their goals. It had outcomes of both
transcendentalism, and existentialism but it led to a burst of free spiritedness and self
-realization.

This movie is a must watch to realise the battle of realism and romanticism, and how it
eventually shaped the students over the movie.
Title: Review of “Stand And Deliver”

Genre: psychosocial Teenage Drama

Director: Ramón Menéndez

Movie: “Stand And Deliver”

Year: 1988

Author: Tom Musca

Many races are prejudged and passed off as a stereotype and this can negatively limit the
group or individuals being subject to such stereotype. sometimes the group or race begins to
develop a complex and begin to limit themselves. in the film "Stand and Deliver" the math
teacher Jamie Escalante makes the students try to think beyond the stereotypes and racial
prejudice the society has caste on them. This shows how benedictory a wise teacher can be in
a student's life
"Stand and Deliver" contains all the formulae for a good pot-boiler: Character: Mr Escalante
is the strongest character in the film, zealous, committed and a strong man; Conflict; which is
Mr Escalante is trying hard for his students to be successful against all the odds, and is
teaching them all the math he can. the society considers them a failure though since they are a
Mexican minority, that is only interested in doing drugs and forming gangs, the next is
calamity: Mr Escalante has a heart attack and falls of the stairs, and is rushed to the hospital,
and has to have bed rest. Meanwhile his students are accused to cheating on an exam. The
climax, is that the students are advised to take retest. And the conclusion: the children
cleared the test, and Mr. Escalante is very happy to see that his efforts won and the kids were
right.
This film clearly elucidates how the society and students stereotype themselves because they
were Mexicans. they also felt they wouldn't clear the test and pass it, and they needed a lot of
encouragement to get out of stereotype. Mr Escalante on his part was trying his best to kill
their pessimism and teach them math will all the fervour he could. when the students took the
test , and the results were announced, they were accused of cheating only because of their
race. the stereotypes is, Mexicans are into mafias and drugs and they won't learn or do well in
school.
there was also a debate on the education system not being fair. the fact that students are being
judged on their ethnicity , economic status, and worse still, illustrates, how low they can
stoop. There are so many instances where apart from Mexicans, Blacks and Muslims also get
stereotyped liberally. For instance, Muslims must have faced many an instance in their lives
when they must have got mistaken as terrorists.
On the positive note ,however, the film is also a gentle reminder to the stereotyped that he/she
can always rise above the highly pessimistic, antagonistic circumstances prevailing around
him/her. people who judge and stereotype are just a reflection of their shallow characters.
Title: Review of “Taare Zameen Par”

Genre: psychosocial Family Entertainment

Director: Actor Aamir Khan, Ram Madhvani

Movie: “Taare Zameen Par”

Year: 2007

Author: Amole Gupte

The film literally means Stars on the Earth, portrays a highly talented child who suffers from
an L.D (Learning Disability). this topic is handled with extreme maturity by Aamir Khan,
who has both produced, directed and acted in this film. Darsheel Zafary, who plays eight-
year-old Ishaan Awasti in this film, is a fine actor who has emerged out of Aamir's
mentoring. the child has really put heart and soul into acting, and it is actually so natural, that
at every point in the movie you can identify with this child. every frame where he was shot ,
which is almost the whole of the movie, shows dedicated, close to life acting, that added extra
brownie points to the films brilliance.

the movie starts off on a slow pace, nevertheless it is a pleasure to have a whole panoramic
view of the child's life, especially the panoramic view of Aamchi Mumbai when he bunks
and tastes independence- something that our parents loathe. Our worlds don't have anything
to do with a psychological disorder to identify with the world that he sees-hues, colours,
innocent day-dreams, and the joys of nature, all knitted by his terrific imagination into a
fable. the childlike pleasures that he experiences in staring into fish tank, seeing those fish
swirl around, or letting paper boats in a stream of water, seeing it fight the currents. and
getting caught between twigs, is something all of us can relate to . and who can forget gazing
at a bird chirping in its nest or doodling in the last page of the notebook during a boring
lecture. A slow pace definitely suits the pace of the subject as it totally brings out the feel and
lifelike experiences.

the first half is made more heartrending by the fact that the child is ostracised by not only his
peers, neighbours and teachers , but even his own father, who is totally disapproving of
everything he does. it is also shown that Ishaan has a world of his own- his painting and
artwork where he give fuel to his imagination. his mother Tisca Chopra plays his mother,
who loves and supports him, but has to obey and concede to the wishes of her dominating
husband. this is stereotypical of every middle-class family, where the mother tends to be soft.
this movie is not just restricted to a dyslexic child who has issues with his academics, but is
also against the current education system which is highly strenuous and swoops upon and
humiliates children for low academic performance. it also focuses on the rote oriented and
anti-original approach to education, which can be highly stifling to some. for example, in the
movie the meaning of the Hindi poem "Dhrishtikone" (the Hindi class scene in boarding
school) meant Perception and was about how people view things. Ishaan might have given an
amateurish, abstract version of a definition , but what he said actually captured the essence of
the word perception, which got the teacher to mock him in front of the class whereas when
his friend got up and recited the meaning in "desi Hindi" , it appealed to him. And Even the
so-called Art class was taught very nonsensically, where they had to copy "still life" images
on their note. This made little Ishaan so depressed he gave up his art altogether.

the continuous importance given to marks, was brought out well in the movie. that was
something very identifiable. the concept of doling out corporal punishment for misconduct or
bad academic performance, is every family's scene. there is also constant comparison with his
brother Yohan, who is school topper and an ace tennis player and is constantly berated for not
being as capable as his brother.

Aamir arrives more towards the second half, and changes the whole direction of the movie.
He plays a fun loving, lively art teacher Ram Shankar Nikhumbh, who also teaches in Tulips
School, a special school meant for the differently abled. he plays the part well, however he
doesn't really look the part, as in we can't quite relate with him, as he should have paid
attention to the fact that his portrayal of Ram Shankar Nikhumbh is a wee bit synthetic.
however, Darsheel stole the show and Aamir has done a fabulous role directing him.

The second half of the film speeds up after Ram Shankar Nikhumbh' s arrival, as he
encourages Ishaan to come out of his shell. It's interesting to see how Ram not only helps
Ishaan evolve into a confident boy, but also teaches his father what the actual meaning of
love, support and empathy is

The music by Shankar Ehsaan loy has to be mentioned, because they are not sing-and dance
rigmaroles, but seamlessly blend with the film and complement it. Taare Zameen Par -the
title song has beautiful lyrics written by Jaaved Akhtar and captures the essence of the movie
in those 6 minutes.

The movie ends very poignantly when he wins the award in the painting competition , and
hugs his teacher, very grateful, that he is, where he is, because of a man- who he had barely
known months back. It ends with a still of Aamir throwing him in the air asking him to reach
for the skies, whilst the aptly worded , Kholo Kholo Darwaze (open doors, widen horizens)
The credits section has a footage of underprivileged and special children, where the title song
plays, and which is very touching to watch, and convincingly, it's a movie you can watch till
the end, left with warm feelings.
Tittle: Review of “Freedom Writers”

Genre: Sociological teenage Drama

Director: Richard LaGravanese

Movie: Freedom writers

Year: 2007

Author: Erin Gruwell

Freedom writers portrays a teacher named Erin Gruwell (Hillary Swank) who leaves her town
at Newport Beach to teach high school kids in Long Beach. Gruwell feels that the students
she teaches will be achievers in society, but soon realises that they are called "unteachables" .
this movie is set in the backdrop of the L.A riots, which is affecting the way the students
behave , both to each other and to Gruwell. after an event that causes the death of a peer , and
Gruwell finding a vandalistic, spiteful caricature, many things happen turn around for the
better. Gruwell fells she can connect better with the students, and makes them feel capable,
and can go places in their lives. Gruwell uses novel ways and encourages them see life
differently.

Gruwell eventually has the students pen down all their experiences and feelings. these diaries
help the students understand each other and gives them a way to vent emotions. the movie
goes to depict Gruwell teaching the students through years at high school, and bringing I
people to motivate her students. Gruwell brings in Miep Gies, the woman who looked after
Anne Frank. Gruwell tells her students to write their diaries as a book, and she compiles as
the entries and calls it the "The Freedom Writers Diary". The movie ends on a moving note
that Gruwell was actually was actually able to make many students graduate and send them to
college.

the mentors struggle, in a way is both a success and not. she struggles a lot with connecting
with the student. she arrives with the expecting willingness and eagerness from their part, she
soon realises that she's wrong. she learns that she shouldn't jump the gun, before she knows
the situation. so, she fails there. But she proves to be successful, when she connects to them
by showing a genuine interest in their lives. she also brings the music from "Ghetto/hood"
and shows her students another form of the Ghetto in the book, the Diary of Anne frank.
these were really commendable approaches and made the relationship with them more
personalised.

it is inevitable to find at least one "problem student" , and it is certainly better to go without
any judgement , or not have any predetermined notions that would only make the teacher
most judgemental, it is also wise to assess the child from a very broadminded perspective.
that way it is also possible to weed out any extraneous reasons that cause the problem. biases
and idea-thrusting should be avoided. one should also make sure they have the best resources
to give the students, if they need it. Take for example the scene involving Eva and Gruwell.
this student is being hard because she witnessed a crime but refuses to do the right thing. But
Gruwell continues to give her inputs and take interest in her life. eventually Eva makes the
right decision and becomes closer to her teacher. the film was full of moral dilemmas and
choices. Gruwell, in the beginning is in a quandary to decide if it's worth teaching them then
her own personal life was being affected -her marriage was taking a hit and she had to
choose. and then is the point where Eva had to decide whether or not to testify in court.

the whole movie sees Gruwell emerging as a confident, self-realised person, and this passes
on to the students. this is seen in the way they right their journals. this movie had many take-
home lessons-not to be biased, knowing one's limitations, and posing healthy forums for
discussion, which is better than an argument. it was amazing to view the movie from the
perspective of a mentor, and made many introspect. about many challenging aspects of life.
Title: Review of “Chak de India”

Genre: Patriotic Sports fiction, family entertainment

Director: Shimit Amin

Movie: “Chak de India”

Year: 2007

Author: Jaideep Sahni

Chak de India (means Rock on India), is a 2007 blockbuster about an Indian hockey team. the
story in the movie is a parallelism between the Indian hockey team and the mentality that
develops between the players, coach and the audience. Sharukh Khan is the lead role, and he
plays an ex hockey player, who returns as a coach of the female hockey team. he was the
captain of the Indian hockey team when the lost the final match against Pakistan, and several
questions were raised, various fingers were pointed him when Pakistan won and he was
wrongly accused of match of giving the match to Pakistan, he was off the limelight for seven
years . he finally returned to mainstream as the coach to prove his mettle and erase the
blemish that the media had attributed him of. His main aim now was to lead the Indians
hockey team to their success.

This movie consists of all the human attributes possible , and yet steers away from being
touted as a melodrama. emotions like motivation, leadership, rebellion, team dynamics,
gradual change in feelings that emerge from team dynamics and most importantly, the pain
of being misunderstood by owns country (which he looks up to as his motherland) and the
feeling of reacceptance when he wins for the same country, is very overwhelming.

the movie starts off with the final hockey match between India and Pakistan. Indian Captain
Sharukh Khan misses his last penalty strike and loses the match. however, the sportive
handshake that he has with a peer Pakistani player is misinterpreted by the media a as a
deliberate act of losing the match and contempt to the nation, and affiliation to Pakistan, also
claiming that he should have moved there before partition. His sentiments, self-esteem are
hurt and he is hurt that he must prove his love for the country somewhere down the line due
to the fact that he is a Muslim. he becomes passive for 7 years, and returns with a fervour to
erase that slur on his name, by strengthening the Indian Hockey team.

The movie contains many aspects of human character and behaviour; it consists of leadership,
team forming group dynamics, personality development, motivation, etc. It sees how the
team, that is formed from players with different, ethnic backgrounds, language, cultures,
attitudes, and personality, and attitudes gradually brush aside their differences for a common
goal to play for the country. In the movie, India is shown as an apprentice team that has won
against a professional, strong team like Australia, by sheer effort, unity and the right attitude.

it also shows the role of an effective leader to that motivates the team, by shifting posts
between a good mentor and a hard task master. Sometimes, he even purposely prevents them
from playing so that they would rebel and play better, i.e. give them a bait and see if they
catch it. he even stands as the enemy, so that the team would bond against him, but they
would at least bond in that pretext. he tries to eradicate individual weaknesses convert them
into strengths. gradually they grow to emerge as a mature, united team, a spark of which is
seen when they fight bullies at the café, and when they fight a close neck to neck match
against the male hockey team. Gradually they even begin to put their differenced aside and
begin to work together for the larger goal at hand- team India. For instance, Komal Chautala
and Preethi Sabarwal have had their ego clashes at many instances but learn to put that aside
and play for team India. They also learn to approach their hurdles one by one England, Spain,
South Africa, South Korea and New Zealand. It also showcases how people instantly change
their perception on a person and his benign religion if something goes wrong i.e.- the Halo
effect. And how stereotypes are based on very half-baked information about the person.
People see Nepali, North East Women, the one with “Chinki” eyes as “easy” and pursue them
relentlessly like game. Also, this movie is shot at a time when the feminist hashtags weren’t
making furores in Facebook. So, it was ok to stereotype a woman as a person only meant to
cook and clean for her husband till she got un outlet to play, which would simply be brushed
off as passé today. This was extended to no one being willing to take responsibility for the
Woman’s team as well. However, one thing that is still prevalent to today’s times is the fact
that, that the resources that are spent for cricket, and the amount of publicity and clout it gets,
hockey barely gets it, being our national sport. we are still playing the sport of the country
that colonised us, and we are a better team that England, but our sport is never in the
limelight. The team also gradually evolves into a set of developed, restrained adults on the
field, able to check their ego, understanding their larger goal, learning to control their temper
and adapting to circumstances.

Chak De India all in all is a movie that is very well researched, well made, and deserves a
watch, with many concepts of stereotyping, effective supervision and organising and leading
all woven into a beautiful storyline.
Title: Review of “Coach carter”

Genre: Sports Fiction

Director: Thomas Carter

Movie: “Coach Carter”

Year: 2005

Author: John Gatins

Team spirit involves a group of people working for a common target. The members work
together to ensure that each takes part and puts in equal effort to the task at hand. They run
individually yet, helping each other where they are weak. When a person is drained of ideas,
his team members chip in ideas in mind that would help carry out the problem. Coach carter
is about a movie that deals with problem solving and crisis handling. It is about a coach who
has a purpose to achieve: forming of a formidable basketball team. He sees poor education
standards at Richmond High, which has been facing issues like violence, chaos, and academic
catastrophe. He sees the need for change. He also notes the passion for basketball and wanted
to channelize that passion into a goal, as well as to learn discipline, confidence, and hard
work. They come from humble backgrounds, where there are also many vices such as drugs,
poverty, insecurity, and crime. Their passion for the sport also ascends from the hope of
aiming for a better life, and, and rising above the streets they come from. After Carter
observes all this information, he makes it his priority to encourage, and inculcate those
positive values in them. He carries on with the onerous job of recruiting young talented
players, who make a brave decision of avoiding influences like drugs and crime. Some of the
players for instance give up drug dealing and give up acquaintances with such people. They
also learn the spirit of tolerance, and minimise fights during a game, especially the players
who happen to live in the same neighbourhood. They care and share, growing through the
hardships that occur in the ghetto, including anxiety in their homes such as murder and theft.
Within a team, rules and regulations are stringent. They guide and direct the activities to the
groupmates to follow the direction towards achieving the goal. Carter comes up with
strategies for instance, that would inculcate. He teaches the players that respect begets
respect, civility begets civility. He instils the use of courteous words like sir, when referring
to the elderly, and made them try to avoid vulgarity. He carries out this by making them sign
a statutory contract having a list of all the rules and regulations before following the game.

The coach’s belief in the players is finally successful. they slowly become self-disciplined
and honest and learn to prioritise and focus on the game. They are also taught to dress and
organize themselves in a way that would reflect their self-confidence. From time to time he
punishes them for even one person’s mistake. He also poses as a hard task mater, by throwing
out a team member out of the group, and when the member begs, making him fulfil a task
that is next to impossible. He even keeps discouraging the player by asking him to leave the
group every now and then since is he is unfit to fulfil those requirements.

Such strategy is strongly abhorred in a group, but like they say, rebellion is best quelled by
rebellion. He finally manages to turn them into disciplined successful players. he also takes
risks, bailing on the group. He closes the school gym which has earlier been used for
basketball practises. His team players learn to take the academic rules seriously as well in the
process. This action gets him under a lot of heat as he threatened to be fired unless he reopens
the gym. He is even okay with losing his job because he strongly believes in forming a
successful team. He believes that if he steps down and gives up his job, he will be
recommending his students that leisure activities are more important than academic
education. In the end, the team changes its perspective on academics and keep winning
contests until they receive an invite to contend for the state championship. They play with the
top national players from the team like St. Francis, but end up losing

The movie ends with the sensible poignant note that although they do not make it to the
finals, they win because they conquered their “inner demons” and that during the process of
training and playing in other championships, they realise how the values of their teacher
actually matter. They understand what team bonding.
Title: Review of “Half Nelson”

Genre: Sociological teenage Drama

Director: Ryan Fleck

Movie: “Half Nelson”

Year: 2006

Author: Anna Boden

Half nelson is about an 8th grade teacher, who handles history, named Dan Dunne, played by
Ryan Gosling. He works in an inner-city school and he wants to have rational discussions
with his students. His weakness is his cocaine addiction, alcoholism, and he frequents bars
and motel rooms, spending his nights with women. Drug use is shown in many shots to
indicate the abuse by the lead actor. When one of his students Drey (Shareeka Epps) walks in
on him, in the locker room just a bit after smoking crack, still holding the vile, they have a
confrontation that is shot with dynamism. Just using a set of close ups and sans emphasis on
facial expressions, the tense atmosphere is captures very beautifully, as well as the hesitation
revealed by Drey. Realist style is captured here because of the intensity of the shots. When
the scenes are powerful, intense or vivid they seem real, whether or not they have been a
fragment of imagination. Moreover, the camera is seen primarily as a means to record than an
expressive medium by itself, which means the drug is affecting Dunne and the camera man is
an eyewitness who is capturing it. The art of realism, allows for the audience to perceive the
life of an addict through the addict’s eyes. His everyday life is portrayed and his constant
need for gratification is highlighted. The Italian neorealist movement which stresses on
viewing the world on a totally moral stance, emphasises that it’s important to look at the
character non judgementally without making shallow moral judgements.
Half nelson is also shot on the premise that cinema is based on capturing the essence of daily
life. the role of Dunne is done sans any glamour. Film medium is indeed the widest means to
reach out to an audience about a subject... being a drug addict may sure be unacceptable to
people, but cinema gave a different dimension to the aspect, and the actuality of the
circumstances evokes the right emotion from the audience without making hem judgemental.
The realism brought about a documentary like feel to the film and also made it look honest
and heartfelt.
The theory of idealism is also well put forth. Dunne is an idealist but a total contradictory
one. Dunne goes to a bar and ends up crashing at a motel with a woman. He has a very
communicative conversation with her where he tells her that he was even badly addicted
before, and rehab did nothing good, after which he had to figure things out for himself, and
he feels better currently. Dunne feels he is sorted and has a grasp over reality. Reality of the
scene and situation is shown by using an actual motel room, poorly lit. Dunne is not realizing
what reality and how subjective it is to him. He is firstly with a stranger, in some random
motel room. He also tells her that his students are helping him pull through., but actually, he
can’t do without drugs.
During the film, Dunne teaches the class about Dialectics, about the tension in the two forces.
He is now friends with Drey, so he correlates this concept with their lives. Drey meanwhile
has a friend named Frank (Anthony Mackie) who is a drug dealer. Dunne knows that Drey
should not indulge in Frank, but Dunne is himself doing coke, and not the best person to
advice. The subjective views the film engages in to enhance Goslings character makes the
audience realise the emotional dilemma he goes through. Dunne eventually ends up having a
huge bawl with frank, and this shows how deeply he feels towards the situation. the
juxtaposing of on a still of a broken-down Dunne and Drey’s expressionless glances totally
portrays reality. Ultimately, even this one last round, Drey ultimately ends up circumventing
his own ideals and buying drugs from her, something he totally contradicts himself for,
caught in addiction. His aim of getting Drey out of trouble falls by the wayside as he falls
prey to addiction. Half Nelson is an emotionally draining movie, it’s a metaphor inner
conflicts-good versus bad, addiction versus sobriety, etc. There is no clear begging middle
end format and it totally fits the bill of a realist narrative. The story is represented a s a slice
of life. At every stage, there are events that challenge his hopes to quit. Like for instance, his
ex-girlfriend’s marriage crashes all hopes of him becoming reformed. When he quits
working. The scene where the teacher and student-Dunne and Drey have an argument in the
dark motel room, Dunne pours his heart out to Drey and tells her his life has hit a new level
of low. With some help and support of Drey, he cleans up his flat and his appearance. The
story is highlighted with realist colours as the end is unknown, even as it starts brightening
up. it is uncertain what Dunn’s future will be. The film ends with the two of them laughing a
Dunne’s bad joke, and a momentary feeling of joy is suggested albeit the otherwise morose
atmosphere.
The objective of this film seems to make the audience understand, what is onscreen is an
actual depiction of life’s harsh reality. the film style and theory makes for the viewer to
connect on an emotional level with main characters and situations. the point of view and
subjectivity used in the film, conveys his world perfectly.
Title: Review of “Iqbal”

Genre: Sports fiction

Director: Nagesh Kukunoor

Movie: “Iqbal”

Year: 2005

Author: Nagesh Kukunoor

Cricket has been used to beautifully as a metaphor for human endeavour in Nagesh
Kukunoors latest film, Iqbal. It works because cricket always has a place in most Indians
hearts. It’s pretty plausible to see women in remote villages rejoicing when India wins a
match, and this feeling of euphoria is passed on to the next generation as well.
Iqbal (Shreyas Talpade) is a child who has inborn love for cricket. Needless to say, he
follows all the idols in the cricket world and aspires to be one of them. Like most young
adults, he hates the concept of responsibility and shared household work. He is special not
because he’s dumb and mute but because he feels it is not even a handicap. His mother and
sister are also supportive of his dreams of becoming a cricketer in the national team. The
growing scientific training for cricket apart, Iqbal practises cricket his own way. He practices
bowling all by himself, on a dry patch of land, with trimmed branches as the stumps. he
charges in fervently barefoot, and his target is only to hit the stumps. He has his first try at
professional training, after His sister convinces the coach of the Kolipad Cricket academy to
enrol him. The politics rears its ugly head and Iqbal is thrown out, but Iqbal realises the main
lesson, the difference when the batsman stands between himself and the wicket. He then finds
out that the village drunkard Mohit (Naseeruddin shah) had priorly been a fast bowler, but
never went to play for the nation. He goes to Mohit and pesters him to teach him bowling in
detail. Mohit picks up the challenge, struggles to make him understand in sign language.
Iqbal finally achieves his dream of playing for the nation, and lives the moment that he
wanted to for so long-of the cheering and the adulations that he craved for.
Iqbal is seen as a life lessons in various aspects. Firstly, rising above limitations: Iqbal was
physical handicap, which he never saw as a handicap. he brushed it aside and kept working
for his goal. He left the professional institution when he felt it was rigged and went on to use
locally available resources, such as the fast bowler Mohit, thus waking up the dormant
interest in him, and producing a great coach for himself.
Secondly knowing what is best for oneself: Iqbal devised his own methods to get wickets and
practised his own way, ways that suited him. He did not have access to tips and tricks a
professional coach would give him, but he had his common sense which he used.
Not letting go of the goal: There was Mohit, who got disheartened and took to drinking. But
Iqbal knew he didn’t want to get depressed and in the end, lit a fire even in Mohit’s belly to
teach. and he showed that amount of commitment and passion.

The grit and passion of an 18-year-old is shown very intricately by the director. He takes care
of all the technicalities of the sport without probing excessively into it.
There are occasional moments of humour, like naming the buffaloes after Cricketers and
making them field. The movie is simple and predictable, but shot aesthetically and earnestly.
Title: Review of “Mr. Holland’s Opus”

Genre: Musical Family fiction

Director: Stephen Herek

Movie: “Mr. Holland’s Opus”

Year: 1996

Author: Patrick Sheane Duncan

This movie stats with the narration of a composer who plays for weddings, bar mitzvahs, and
various other gigs to hold up his hearth and his family, consisting of him and his wife Iris
(Glenne Headly). In 1964, he decides to take a job at John F Kennedy high school. He is
meanwhile working on a symphony and hopes that the day job would give him time in the
evenings to concentrate on his masterpiece, which he wants to make the legacy he would
leave the earth with. Helen Jacobs the school principle, played by Olympia Dukakis, wants
him to channelize all his time and efforts just to teach music appreciation. But the students
are tired most of the time. Holland gets frustrated seeing this lack of involvement. The
principal teaches him to scale beyond the covers of textbooks and take them to higher zones.
His first challenge is a girl Alicia Witt who practises her clarinet but can’t seem to get the
instrument right without making errors and botching up. He gives her more time, and
empathising with her. He asks her what she likes most in her, when she looks into the mirror.
She says it’s her auburn hair, that her father says reminds him of the sunset. Holland suggests
her to shut her eyes and reminisce that sunset when she begins playing. She, as expected
plays better. As years go by he teaches better and better and ends up landing himself more
roles in school. Bill Meister (Jay Thomas) , the football coach, also Hollands best friend,
taches the marching band to move in step on the condition that Holland should help an
asynchronized African -American play the bass drum, and get credit to be in the band so that
he can qualify for the wrestling team.
In the meantime, however his family life suffers, and is wife is annoyed that her husband is
away with the students for longer than his own house, and is neglecting his own son Cole
(John Coltrane). The boy who is deaf, feels alienated and deprived of a family. In one
emotional scene in the film, Holland realizes that his son hasn’t got any of his time, and so he
offers to give a concert at the special school his son attends. He even croons one of john
Lennon’s songs, beautiful Boy with his son. Equally touching is the scene where he explains
how Beethoven composed his symphonies even after losing his hearing. Holland’s teaching
style eases up and he also mixes rock music into the curriculum even though it’s not well
known among the students. He even pays a tribute to Ira Gershwin in one of the highlight
scenes. Rowena Morgan(Jean Louisa Kelly) impresses him with her voice and develops a
fancy for him. He handles these emotions very sensitively. In the whole turn of events he
realises he hasn’t taken the steps needed to succeed in rendering his symphony. The irony of
the whole story hits the audience, when the principle of the school, unimpressed by his
unconventional methods, decides to put an end to the music, theatre and art departments. He
looks back at his years of service and reminisces how he had left performing at gigs to put his
life in music school. He is enraged the appalling injustice that did not pay him an iota of
gratitude for his efforts. Leaving the school forever , he just decides to leave and stops to
recollect his contributions.

The story is indeed a poignant, emotional saga about a teacher’s endless efforts towards a
student’s betterment that gets normally no fruition. A teacher’s work is casually buried under
newly changing policies and adjustment, not realising the biggest adjustment has been from
the teachers end.

The movie has been shot beautifully, paying emphasis on all the emotional aspects of the
film, with all the cat playing their sentiments beautifully-be it angst, warmth or grief. Director
Stephen Herek also brings a rounded, splendid performance from Richard Dreyfuss. The
screen play brings out the concept that passion, patience and compassion can turn a job soul
satisfactory,
Title: Review of “October Sky”

Genre: Science Family Entertainment

Director: Joe Johnston

Movie: “October Sky”

Year: 1999

Author: Homer Hickman

It narrates the tale of four boys in a poverty zones place of Appalachia who wish to build
their own rocket, and get America back in the “Space race”. The movie is shot through the
lenses of the leader, young Homer Hickham, (Jake Gyllenhaal), who gets inspired by a tiny
dot of light in the sky, and starts reading the science fiction of Jules Verne. Homer is a hard-
working student, but he is not really strong in math and science. He knows he needs help, and
trespasses all the rules in the lunch room by going to the whiz kid, a so called outcaste named
Quentin (Chris Owen). He learns from him concepts of rocket fuel, nozzles, and velocity.
Roy Lee (William Lee Scott) and O’Dell (Chad Lindberg), join hands with him.
Unfortunately, their first experiment is a debacle as he the first rocket blows a hole in the
fence of Homer’s house, and the second misses miners at a coal mine, which is already the
one of most explosive places on the earth, leading to Homer’s father getting enraged and
confiscating their belongings, preventing any further experimentation. but the kids keep
toiling. They go to a remote jungle, build shelter for protection from explosions and continue.
They talk of taking he help of a technician at the mine, who can build them a strong rocket
case of sturdier variety of steel, and they use alcohol from a moonshiner as ingredient in
rocket fuel. the conflict that he boys face is with the society things that the miners’ boys must
belong inside the dark mines and not look up at the skies. Homer’s father is just sceptical
because he has the onus of the jobs of his men, he rescues them in an almost catastrophic
event and injures his eye in another catastrophe. He wants Homer to follow his footsteps and
be a miner. The mine seems like an unhealthy and loathsome job to pursue, but John is very
optimistic of his son Homer pursuing the job. The high school principal is okay with a
miner’s son to work in a dingy coal mine. He feels that’s the norm. but a young teacher Miss
Riley (Laura Dern) tells Homer she feels her career would be a failure if they didn’t go out
and realize their dreams. Then there’s a crisis where people doubt that a rocket set up a forest
fire, leading to a scene where homer and friends use trigonometric principles to plea
innocence. This movie also proves how education should be a path to independence. In the
end, they realise their independence, when they win a science exhibition at school. They go
on to participate in the Indianapolis science fair. His display is received with a bang at the
play. Homer goes back to school to pay a tribute to his Teacher Miss Riley, when she’s dying
of Hodgkin’s disease. He even names the rocket after her and it reaches an altitude of 9100
meters, stunning everyone, including Homer’s sceptical father.
October Sky is based on a real memoir- Homer Hickam’s rocket boys, is based on highly
realistic scenarios where everyone is mature shades of grey, loyal to the scenario and
circumstances they belong to. E.g. Homer’s dad is not painted as an oppressor till the end. He
wants his son to follow his footsteps only keeping his benefits in mind. In breaking free, he is
still bearing the respect for his father.
This movie also displays the triumph of determination in achieving one’s passion, and how
they achieve the goal, and how creatively they think to achieve goals.
CHAPTER 3
 METHODOLOGY

Movie: To Sir, With Love

Director: James Clavell

Cast: Sidney Poitier, Suzy Kendall, Lulu, Judy Geeson, Christian Roberts

Objectives:

 To analyse to movie based on socio-economic context

 To identify the emotions portrayed in the movie which the director is using to appeal
a message
 To analyse the character and their roles.

Character analysis:

This this method is used to analyse how a person’s innate character functions. character
analysis is essential because a film shows characters of intricately differently characteristics.
When you evaluate a character’s traits, their role and strength of their role in the movie, the
social, peer and internal pressures they deal with and the conflicts they encounter. Part from
their age, size, built, physique, race, and ethnicity, we would also look for other significant
trait relevant to the movie. we critique them very subjectively, their actions, their emotional
quotient-how well they can emote with the co actors, the objectives, background,
circumstances and conduct and arrive at a conclusion on their character. Character yield to
the depth of the film based on the intensity of their experiences. A character with strong
scenes to work on adds to the substance. The movie To Sir, With Love showcases the
characters-both the teachers and the students- undergoing a sea change in perspective.

Sociological analysis:

Sociological analysis is the study of how one’s behaviour is affected by one’s society and
social environment, and how it in turn influences others in society. Under this umbrella of
society comes culture, economy, and global evolution. The environment that we live in can
be divided into the immediate or microsystem, the limited areas where we function (school,
friend’s house)-meso system, the society that is around us and influences us without our
realisation, (Social rules and trends) and lastly the underlying socio political atmosphere that
always governs our lives -exosystem. This movie shows how racism is learned behaviour-
from immediate home atmosphere, by reading books and travelogues and by the way the
whole society behaves.

Textual analysis
Textual Analysis includes observing and critiquing each element that creates meaning or
aesthetically enhances-right from acting, cinematography, mise-en-scene, lighting, camera
angles and movements, sounds-diegetic and non-diegetic, editing, transitions, etc. It is also
understanding the larger social relevance of the film with respect to its times- in terms of
society, culture, history, political climate and policies. This will include analysing its genre
and corresponding it with the demographic dividend who would likely watch.
CHAPTER 4
 ANALYSIS

The film begins with Mark Thackeray listening to a loud conversation on a bus, of two
women talking in sexual tones. Mark listens to them involved and yet having the stern feeling
of an outsider. He notices their loud mannerisms and uncultured way of talking about a
private issue like sexuality. This scene is kept in the beginning of the movie as a add-on entry
to the film, but highlights the effect on prejudice from both ends. Just as traditional “white
Britons” feels Niger’s are inferior, the general perception of a Niger towards a Briton is he or
she carries and behaves with an authority to impose. This implies the fact that there is a
section of the society, that that has lived very proximately with death, disease and
poverty, the common peasantry masses. They are the integral part of the city’s masses.
He goes to the school, and sees a “white” boy, dressed rather sloppily, with unkempt hair,
blowing a cigarette. He wonders what type of school would let its students be so wayward.
He then enters the school premises, where a girl (Pamela Dare, played by Judy Geeson)
bumps into him and begins to laugh impishly. He also sees a boy smoking inside the
premises. He steps into that class, where the girl tells him that Hackman’s in the staffroom,
and that he could join him. Little does he realise that Hackman has been driven away by their
impudent behaviour. When he enters the staffroom, he mistakes Weston for Hackman, to
which Weston asks him if he is the “black sheep” for slaughter, replacing the proverbial
lamb, in derogatory reference to his skin tone. This incident happens to be yet another
reminder to Thackeray that he will be called out because of his race, not once but again
and again, and he must take it with dignity.
He then is introduced to Ms Dale-Evans, who-in this movie, plays a rather mature, yet lively
domestic science teacher as compared to the childlike role that has been portrayed in the
book-where she whispers rather funny, yet prejudiced details about her colleagues to
introduce them. She talks to him for a bit and asks him how long he’s been teaching, and he
says this is his first appointment, and she says it’s called a job in the U.K. She asks him if
he’s an American, and he says he’s British, with few months a California. She uses the pure
British, “weather is good, as they say” to indicate her little knowledge that it’s a pleasant
place, to which Thackeray replies, it’s even better. This is because in America, Racism has
never been an issue that has been carried about discreetly and subtly unlike the British,
and gave a platform for revolutionaries Like Martin Luther King to fight against
apartheid. Each revolution only brought about more change till the Negros felt independent
of white people in which ever field they pursued. He also realises that he has a strong
American dialect. She then asks him what subjects he had, rather what had he majored in-
which is the American way of speaking, now being globally accepted. He says he is a
communications engineer, of which she is appreciative, unaware of all the struggles he had,
despite his qualifications, to land a job.
She then introduces him to all the other teachers. Before she leaves, Evans drops a hint about
the background the kids belong to. One of the girls has not changed her sanitary napkins for
days and she has a foul odour reeking from her. she badly needs to have a bath arranged.
Evans neatly sums this up-fourteen and helpless. She also leaves telling one of the teachers,
Blanchard to encourage him, who reveals. that there is no form of corporal punishment in
this school at all. There is a practise of free-discipline. He hears music wafting and enters
the hall, where he sees young adults jiving together without any restraint, without drawing
any boundaries of physical proximity. One girl (Pamela Dare) comes and swirls her waist
rather garishly and asks him if he wants to “shake. He finds her mannerisms rather
inappropriate and too informal. He then meets the Headmaster, Mr. Florian, and he tells him,
that he did not find a job in his line as an engineer, even after eighteen months of
struggle, due to the subtle racism, that has been brushed under the carpet for years.
He is ready to take up this job just because he must support himself. He is told by Florian
about the disquieting truths of the school. These children are rejects from other schools,
from the shants of London so it’s an onus on this school to see they don’t flounder . The
local authorities are not on their side. Help will be provided with facilities, but success or
failure is his. He is all by himself from the second he begins.
The class is shown as a bunch of young adults who are either vagabonds, or have been sent
out of their homes, and look unfocused. They do all the things that are not meant to done in a
class, brushing their hair, wearing shades, reading inappropriate content in class, eating and
sitting with legs apart on the table answering their attendance with total nonchalance. They
are asked to read a piece of text to see how well they read, during which, one of the kids
Denham displays annoying and cheap behaviour. He clearly realises that he is at a big
disadvantage, for taking Hackman’s place, for controlling kids who seemed grown up,
for knowing more than them and being more poised than them and for being a black.
He even notices that Pamela Dares is one of the attention seeking girls in the class, and she
gets the attention she seeks as she reads well. She takes natural interest in things and is just
misguided, and can be moulded into something successful. This character later proceeds. to
be an important one, as she first understands the importance in her “Sir’s” words. He then
discusses “weights” in class to which Denham gives a rather senseless answer, and they all
seemed amused by it. He points that out-that they can be amused despite knowing so less, and
can hear expletives hurled at him, like “bleeding cheek”, when he turns his back away and
asks them to copy things from the board. He talks to this to Ms. Clintridge, who tells agrees
with him, and says that the teachers here at a great disadvantage. The families they come
from are dysfunctional; an order is followed by a blow-one rude word and they have it-
and it is totally the opposite at school. He faces more rebellion from the class, in terms of
attempts to ruffle his cool, attempts to stop the cool progress of his class (by banging the door
or the lids of the desk shut tight, by shaking the desks), and by a regimen of joint rebellion,
where if one person dropped the hint of a distraction, the whole class catch the bait would get
distracted. It seems liked a planned rebellion against him. They even saw off one of the legs
of the table, making him fall over. He discusses these matters in the staffroom, and Mr
Weston ever cynically tells him, that this is the silent treatment, after which they try other
tricks of rebellion. When he hears this, the next scene cuts to him hurriedly circling a job
offer in the newspaper, of deputy Chief Engineer. Thackeray tells Ms. Blanchard that he’s
going nowhere with them, and tells Mr Weston that he feels bad as they can barely read. Mr
Weston points out the harsh reality of London to him: Those “rebellious kids who can’t
read”-manage to earn twice as much as the teachers. Education is a disadvantage, and
teaching is thankless as it comes.
Their behaviour reaches its peak of depravity when they burn a sanitary napkin in a small
furnace in the class, which makes Thackeray call the girl’s behaviour sluttish, and point out
to them that they keep their filthy games and coarse behaviour at home. He feels disgusted
for losing his temper. This scene is shot intensely, with a marked expression of anger, and a
high tempo music, to match the gusto. There are more number of cut shots in this scene
indicating a presence of dynamism, and the music reaches a crescendo to keep pace.
He then realises where he is making a mistake and the movie catches pace from here. He
learns to address them as adults and never call the kids. He teaches them to take
responsibility of their lives, and do simple things like filling a resume. Unfortunately, in
East London the concept of a family taking responsibility in raising their kids is non-
existent. Most of them had come from broken homes, and the grunges of the society. They
are also asked to address each other in proper British terms, using Miss for the young women,
and the men by their surnames, and he as Mr. Thackeray. He also teaches them the value of
cleanliness, and how it plays a role in attracting the opposite gender. He teaches here, the
rules of basic survival-mating, love, attraction marriage, sexuality, social hygiene, and
courtesy-things that are overlooked in the East London slums, full of underpaid
labourers and dockworkers doing coke. He also sees the social evils prevalent here
galore, not surprisingly called the “Darkest London”-prostitution, drugs, crime,
murder, begging etc. This also includes grooming and etiquette. Denham gets his first hit of
rejection for his shaggy appearance and rude way of talking when the girls refuse to jive with
him.
In the next class he rudely tells Thackeray, that he saw a travelogue with naked black woman
dancing around. Thackeray calmly answers that different people in the world, live differently
according to their own customs, and climate. The topic then shifts to a very important one-
society, culture and rebellion. He also tells them that he is not a south African although he’s
black, he is a British Guiana, and tells them that a south African is a native of South Africa,
no matter what his colour. He also tells them that fashion is a form of rebellion, sometimes
adopted to be different from adults, like their messy hairstyles. He then tells the class, in that
it is necessary to change the world, through peace and individually. He gives the example of
the Beatles who bought a huge fashion revolutions, by their polo shirts, hairstyles and
glasses, and are still followed worldwide. He also tells them that there is a fine exhibition of
costumes that have evolved overtime at the Victoria Albert Museum, as well as the museums
of natural history. He also points out that their dresses are and hairstyles are totally out of
league, they can go update themselves there. He tells Mr. Florian that he wants to take the
risk. He goes to Gillian and asks her if she can accompany him to the Museum. the shot
before this is overlooked-but a significant one. He is still not sure if he should continue job as
a teacher, so as a sign of hope, he keeps putting in job applications. He feels he wants a
job of an engineer because he has majored in engineering, and he’s just joined midterm
to replace Hackman.
The scene that follows before the permission is granted is important because they talk about
marriage. They ask him how to choose the right person, how to avoid divorce and ask him
why he didn’t get married. Without sounding too prejudiced he replies that he wanted to get
educated to escape poverty and unemployment. He mentions that he did all sorts of things for
a living, was a waiter, a cook at a hamburger joint and a janitor before he became a teacher.
He also mentions that marriage is not for the weak, selfish, and insecure.
The scene that follows is a one of contradictory bonding, joy and hope. He enters the class to
see the kids dressed up very elegantly, in fashions of different eras, and had certainly put in
effort in it, as they looked like celebrities. This is an example of mise-en-scene`. He even
remarks “I thought for once that I entered the wrong class.” There also follows a funny and
yet endearing scene of Tich Jackson (Gareth Robinson) and Potter (Chris Chittel) tumbling
over a pile of unwashed clothes that must be given over to laundry-this scene depicts a light-
hearted moment with both the children and Sir.
They also teach him the “Cockney rhyming slang”, a rhyming phrase is used for a word,
like a frog and toad, is a road; weeping willow is a pillow; ginger beer is queer, trouble and
strife is wife; so “up the frog” would mean up the frog and toad(road). They tell hi, it’s an old
people’s way of talking and pretty dragged.
The museum scenes are shot as a montage to the song “To Sir, With Love”, not with much
editing, but with artistic shots of the Museum Antiques, and how they influence the students,
matching the lyrics, “what takes the place of climbing trees and dirty knees in the world
outside…” The song “To Sir, with Love” shot in the museum with different lyrics as from
those sung in the end by Lulu, mark the beginning of growth and development from a stage
of awkwardness, and the stage where maturity dawns on them through the visit. They see old
ancient statues like Michelangelo’s David, the pieta, fossils of ancient Dinosaurs from the
Jurassic Times, statues of Roman gods like Cupid and Venus, and while the girls learn about
the Victorian era -when fashion statements reached a new high, creating an exaggerated
and ostentatious look, with hoop skirts and multi-layered dresses-and try to apply
makeup, the boys look on at a statue of the Greek philosopher Socrates. They are not just
overjoyed to see such so much of exposure, that they visibly did not get in their families, they
are also very thankful to their teacher, and the love for their sir, starts developing because of
this experience.
In the bus, there is an ironical and hilarious scene, while Barbara points out that Thackeray
fancies Blanchard, which-in the book-he explicitly does, while Blanchard points out that
Pamela likes him, and Thackeray brushes it off. The scene is shot technically here, with a
two point of Gillian and Thackeray still in the foreground, while keeping Barbara and
Pamela in focus. This indicates that they are trying to either eves drop or gaze intently and
decipher “what they share”. The following scene confirms that Pamela fancies him; however,
it is narrated differently in the book: the boys come over to Thackeray asking him to lace the
football and he ends up cutting his hand on the steel lacer on the last eyelet hole, and cuts
only his finger. In the movie, he stretches his hand back and grabs a tin can that would have
otherwise hit his student and caused injury, and cuts his hand.
Since the movie is shot about a decade and a half after the book was written, many
changes were done to fit the times. Probably lacing of a football was uncommon in the
late 60’s. However, the scenes following in the movie are faithful to the book; Potter
expresses feigned surprise at red blood gushing out, and Pamela replies “what d’you expect
pig head, ink?” There is an altercation between Potter, Denham-who never liked Sir anyway
and Pamela. In the end, Denham says it out loud, “I know what’s eating you, you fancy him”.
And she walks away knowing this is true. Thackeray watches all this, and goes to Evans, who
interprets the situation to him smartly. She says there is a shortage of quality teachers as it
is an underpaid, thankless, job. She also says, they, at that school have always been at
the bottom of the pile. Thackeray, was a different, pleasant change-handsome, clean,
intelligent, so she asks him to be patient regarding Pamela, who’s having her first encounter
with mature adulthood, and Thackeray is the first mature adult she has met. It would take
time for that emotion to settle.
There comes a scene where they are taught to make a simple English salad. The boys are
brought up in homes where the male works in the harbour and the woman looks after
the house. Denham says that cooking is a “Women’s work”. He challenges them, that if they
are on their own, shortly, they would at least have to know the basic minimum-to make an
English salad. It’s for their survival which is independent of their gender. Barbara asks him, if
he has been broke, and tells him, that he is so much like them and yet intimidating, and he
tells them, that the truth always is intimidating.
Jane Purcel comes in with a baby-which is her sister and says she didn’t want to miss class.
The students are from the East ends of London, where since the late 80’s and early 90’s
there has been a voice for change and better lifestyle, since the cholera epidemic that led
to death and disarray of many lives in 1866. The east end has always been synonymous
with poor societal order, with children asking to chip in for the absence of a philandering
parent and having to support the roof early.
Thackeray goes to the marketplace soon, and he meets some of his student’s parents, who
consider him a part of their lives and expect him to be familiar with all his students’ lives.
Jeannie Clark’s older sister-rather Ms. Clark, as her sir knows her-Penny Clark, got married
and they offer him cake. Moira Joseph’s mother also gives him priority and ushers him out of
the queue, because he is her teacher. She helps him with the best of fruits for his lunch. The
museum topic is raked, and Moira’s mother says education is important according to her.
This sets off an ugly debate between Moira’s mother and Jeannie’s father about the “yanks”-
the Americans, while Moira’s mother feels that education causes mass terror and bombing,
Jeannie’s father corrects her and says that it’s only the Americans who are responsible for it.
Scenes post the world war have always been very hideous, and have caused more
strained relations, between the Scandinavian countries and, UK and North America.
United States is always being referred to as an anarchist, that has exploited their
nuclear resources, to cause the worst damage possible. He also realises that cussing and
using crude language appears like seamless transition from one generation to another-they
grew up with such inputs, in such surroundings. It was learned, imitated behaviour.
Belligerence, aggression was something, that they had got accustomed to, and their parents
had ended up setting very detrimental examples on them. He had to make them unlearn and
learn anew.
He sees burst of their temper when during the P.T lessons, one of the fat boy Buckley, fails to
do the high jumps, and falls, getting a stitch in the belly. Potter verbally abuses Mr Bells and
goes to injure him with the injured piece of wood. He censures potter for his violence and
makes him understand, that every time one gets angry, resorting to violence at the drop of a
hat is inexcusable, and not adult. if he had a gun or a Knife he would not go shoot Mr. Bells.
Using a weapon every time someone made them angry, especially in the wide world would
make them delinquents, which he didn’t want. He wanted them to learn self-discipline. He
keeps the log that Potter used as a weapon on the table, as a symbol of young adult
crime, if not curbed, can lead to problems. These scene is faithful to the book, and the
same intense argument between Denham and Thackeray is depicted in screen as to who
should apologies, and on what grounds.
Soon Seales, enters the class, and announces that his mother has passed away. Denham
collects the contributions for the wreathe and gives it to Pamela and asks her to send it. He
refuses to accept Thackeray’s contributions out of contempt. When he asks her why they
won’t go and give it, finally Barbara reveals, that going to a coloured person’s house will
make people in the locality talk ill about them and even shun them. And Denham drives
it further in. The camera zooms to an extreme close up of his face, he laughs amused yet
bitterly dejected, an emotion that Poitier pulls out brilliantly with his eyes. he finally feels
dejected that even after all his teachings about different races and tolerance, it finally
boiled down to the locality, family and surroundings ultimately.
The upcoming scene shows him tearing an envelope and getting a job order, visible by the
expression on his face. He is overwhelmed, and an expression of cheer and joy enters his life,
and the market scenes are used symbolically to show that he doesn’t mind whites anymore,
and finally has a sense of peace in his life, with an appropriate, tranquil music playing. He is
happy and overjoyed, leaping and hopping, hurling his briefcase in the air and catching it.
When he tells it Gillian that he has got the post of a third assistant engineer in a radio factory,
she looks glum and does not share the same excitement. There is a mild hint of a possibility
that she likes him, which is not mention explicitly unlike the book. Her acting and
emotions, subtly give away that she wants her presence in the school.
At the behest of Pamela Dare’s Mother- who tells him she stays out late at night. He talks to
Pamela and tells him that she’s grown up, it’s worrying. Pamela tells him that a neighbour
started calling on her and things got out of hand, when she found him in her house with her
mother. She hates her mother and can’t stand the sight of her for her mistake. When
Thackeray tries to tell her that she deserves a second chance, and that she made mistakes like
everyone did, she goes back to square-one, and said, he’s as apathetic as Denham had said.
She also says she will not deliver the wreathe and flowers to Seales’s house, like she had
promised to do. He understands that Pamela was refining herself just because she fancies
him, she has some amount of inborn racism like other whites which will resurface if he
says something against her.
This scene fades into the next scene. All his students are looking mischievously at him, and
he suspects there is something instore for him. He handles P.T for them, at the behest of the
Principal who tells them that the treating-‘em-like-adults hasn’t worked. Denham says that
they should box first and challenges that he should have a go with him, because Sapiano
broke his wrist. Thackeray reluctantly agrees, and what follows is an intense match, marked
by fast music and quick cuts, with cutaways of the boys cheering while the punches go
on. The highest point of these scene is when he hits Denham in the abdomen with full gusto,
and does not hit again. He helps Denham come around and get on his feet. The boys, and
especially Denham, see the strength of his character.
Denham realises what a gem of a person he is, when his sir says hitting him wouldn’t
solve the matter. Most of the world revolutions, against apartheid and colonialism, have
been a slap on the conscience than on limp body. He also tells Denham that he is an
amazing fighter and offers him a job to teach youngsters to box, he’d also get paid for it. He
says its important youngsters know to defend themselves. Denham is surprised, and asks him
why he’s up to all this. He tries to point out he needs to know more about life than conducting
business having a vegetable barrow-it’s about life skills.
He is invited to a party by Denham, who says Thackeray was right about a man to make up
his mind. They gather, neatly dressed, with flowers in their hands, for Seales mother, and the
“To Sir, With Love” instrumental plays on. They rise above racist feelings, as a class, put
their prejudice back, as the camera pans across the whole class slow and steady, in a high
angle shot, as if Thackeray is scrutinising every of their moves. It is indeed a solemn moment
for him as the camera fades out into a shot of him, amidst all of his
Pamela also invites him to dance with her at the party, and asks him to call her Pamela just
for that day. Thackeray agrees because he realises she has she has forgiven her mother and
acted adult. And he also appreciates the effort she has taken in dressing up.
The scene ends with many surprise elements that make the movie special: the directors
way of indicating a roundabout change overtime: The hallway is converted into a dance
floor with some of the students acting as a band, with styles akin to the Beatles, discotheque
lights, and loud jazz music playing, with the students and teachers tap dancing, dressed in
very trendy fashionable clothes. This is another example of mise-en-scene, to create the
ambience of a party place using lighting music, and cutaway shots of the foot tapping.
Mr Weston, who is very shabbily dressed as the children complain, is dressed up in a very
suave suit with his hair done-much to the surprise of Clinty and Thackeray; Gillian is seen
jiving with Denham who has come dressed very sharply, Weston is seen mingling with the
children of Hackman’s class, and Thackeray is seen clearly reconsidering his decision of
taking his engineering job-something he wanted so badly-looking at Gillian, who he likes,
and listening to what Clinty said about his flair for teaching. (indicated by cutaways and
perspective shots of a dancing Gillian). Barbara teaches Weston a lesson or two, in manners
when he corrects Barbara to Ms. Pegg. Tich Jackson announces that he has got a job as a
pageboy at the Hilton, and he says he wants to grow up from being a page boy, for which he
wants to join a night school. He asks for help there, and Thackeray says yes. Thackeray
finally manages to put ambition in this stratum of the society, from Denham who says,
“I have my barrow” to Tich Jackson who wants to grow further, he makes them realise
that ambition is a key factor in rising beyond the ramshackle of society and carving a
way.
Pamela shakes a leg with Thackeray to a fast-paced “It’s Getting Harder All The Time”,
mindbenders, after which she asks him if she could meet him. As he is still indecisive about
the job, he says he will not be there next term, but tells her that the world is open to her and
that she’s a “smasher”, there is a slow series of cuts of close ups of each other’s faces- and
while both are poignant, Pamela is also upset that she is leaving someone she likes, while
Thackeray never saw as anything but a student. Denham gathers the students together while
Barbara, (famously credited as Lulu) sings the title track of “To sir, with love”, as Thackeray,
and the students get teary eyed. They also give him a present. That day, the other staff, and
the class, and Thackeray bear witness to the fact that he was loved despite his colour, which
had deprived him other jobs, but had bestowed him with the most love and affection in
this field-education. This was a double-edged profession. It could make you the most
loved teacher, or feel most despised. This scene ends with the shoulder shot of the students,
watching him leave, zooming out.
The last scene is more of an epilogue, which takes away from the novel and gives it a
cinematic appeal-even as a bunch of rebellious boys enter, and taunt him for being the new
teacher, he tears up the offer of his new job of the engineer. The movie ends as a still of the
torn pieces in his hands.
The film is shot in the East End of London, which is known for its slums and
underdevelopment. This is depicted in the tale of Dick Whittington and his cat, written by
Hans Christian Anderson, where Dick Whittington goes to London thinking the streets are
paved with gold, and reaches the Far East end of London where he sees only squalor and
poverty. This also brings in the concept of capitalism in the city, where the bourgeois classes
enjoy and concentrate the wealth in their hands where the poorer classes in the east end are
the working classes, who work in the dockyards, or lumberjacks, and struggle for a
living. There is also rampant unemployment in these areas.
These areas are markedly different from the prolific growth and development the other
parts of London have seen. Since the outburst of a cholera epidemic in 1866, there were
many families that were rendered destitute and thrown into disarray. The book “The People
Of The Abyss was written by the American journalist Jack London, where he documents the
pits of this part of the society-people sleeping on the street after drinking, gambling away
their last few shillings of rent, destitute and drunk men sleeping under on footpaths, a group
of “starving ticket men” at the Salvation army ground waiting for a ticket to bring them food,
people waiting for hours, for a small amount of food- all this in contrast to the sprawling
society on the other end. He found it very alarming indeed.
Not just Jack, there were many who whose hearts went out towards this area of the city. The
London dockyards began developing in 1981, and it included reclamation of
transportation facilities, improving the environment-creating public parks and
attracting private sector investment. However, there were some issues that still prevailed-
juvenile delinquency, high rates of crimes, sexual transgressions, dysfunctional family
relations, coarse social behaviour, poor exposure to etiquette or knowledge, poor survival
skills, and worse still-drugs, alcoholism, gambling, poverty, unwed sexual proclivity and
childbirth and diseases galore. Many of these issues have been portrayed in the movie: the
rough, crude mannerisms of the students, lack of boundaries towards the opposite gender,
poor sense of apparel, decorum, poise and grace, not having futuristic thoughts, content
blowing cigarettes, using expletives in class without a sense of age, respect and self-dignity.
Their slovenly behaviour is not liked by the central Character Thackeray, who feels women
must conduct themselves with dignity. They also have poor personal hygiene standards, as
one of the teachers, Dale-Evans puts across. They not only are poor but also don’t take the
initiative to make lives better and raise standards of living.
The evils of their society are also reflected by the elders in their lives. Moira Joseph’s
mother and Jeannie Clark’s father get into an intense argument at the market place which is
rather aggressive and uncivilized. Pamela’s mother is called upon by male friend’s in the
absence of her husband and gets cosy with one of them not realising to what extent it affects
her daughter.
Economically speaking, the war days were the times when Great Britain had used up its
financial stock and was borrowing from the U.S to clear the debt. American shipments
bailed U.K out of the crisis and gave enough to feed themselves. The human and material loss
post war was humongous. Loss of shipping came down to millions of tons, and costed
millions of pounds to the empire. Britain owed huge money to the U.S as debt. In east
London, the main indicators were poor wellbeing, bad housing, and long-term mass
unemployment that pointed to rampant terminal social and economic stagnation. By 1926,
came the fatal Wall Stock market crash that led to the great depression. Millions of
unemployed and their families were left penniless, and would queue up at broth kitchens.
Around 25% of the UK's population existed on a maintenance diet, often with signs of child
malnutrition such as scurvy, rickets and tuberculosis.
During these times, racism in the UK was also widespread. In the beginning of the 20 th
century, Britain brought restriction of immigration- like what has been brought under the
states, under the name of Aliens Restriction Act 1905, aimed at the Jews fleeing oppression
in Russia. Victorian England in fact, is referred to as an era harsh to the lower classes. The
concept of racism became popular only after 1936, although race hatred was a term used
popularly in the late 1920’s.
It was not until the 1960s that laws were passed that specifically prohibited the practice of
racial segregation. The Racial Relations Act outlawed public discrimination, and
established the Race Relations Board. Further Acts that were passed in 1968 and 1976-
outlawed discrimination in employment, housing and social services. the Race Relations
Board was soon replaced with Commission for Racial Equality that merged into the Equality
and Human Rights Commission in 2004.
Technically, the film had released about a decade after the book was written by Braithwaite.
The film has lesser explicit issues of oppression and denial of rights on grounds of colour.it is
mentioned that he had to wait a year and a half till his next offer, yet, towards the end, he
bags a job offer as a third assistant engineer. Abuses like “bloody nigger” are used at him in
the book, but not in the film. Denham mentions nigger women dancing naked around bonfires
contemptuously, and he is brought to light that the white cannot visit a coloured person’s
house, not even to bring the wreathe. He is called a “black sheep” for slaughter, in contempt
to his skin, and is expected to do “black magic” on the students.
The film has also ignored the way natives are described in the book-native was a word
to describe the black or the coloured people, even the teachers used it. Their idea of a
Negro as well, according to Braithwaite, was based on stereotype and caricature-a dubious
creature, nomadic, living in a hut or a shant, meeting life’s challenges with an ostentatious
smile, graceful dance, and drum aided melody.it had been injected into them that coloured
people were mentally, physically, socially, and culturally smaller that the white races. They
had the same textbook year after year that regurgitated the same concept. The written word
was so powerful that those days, it was effort to change young minds against the idea of
racism. They were made to understand, that a native of a country belongs to a country,
irrespective of colour. Similarly, the Jews were also stereotyped as a coloured, cap-wearing
class that were involved in weaving and textile merchandise; and touted as the non-Aryan
races; but they faced still higher levels of oppression in Germany under the Nazi.
The writer also recalls his experience at those times when racism hit him under the belly, as a
human being: a) when Seals mother dies the children tell him that going to his house is
transgression of propriety as they will have to hear harsh language from their family, even of
the risk of being called an outcast. At this moment, when a person was shattered, and had
nothing more to lose, racism played very ugly and created that divide which Braithwaite
thought had had erased. This emotion is beautifully expressed as saddened amusement on
Poitier’s face, that ‘“this” turned out to be the reason for not sending the donation, this
(racism) that I so despised.’ And b) it is mentioned in the book, as the writer’s true
experience, but was edited for the purpose of length of the film: the incident at the restaurant
he goes to on a date with Gillian Blanchard, the waiter delays the order and makes them wait
just because of Braithwaite’s colour and also ridicules him for spilling. His first date , that he
had expected to be memorable, turns to be a very cold event of racial prejudice and exposes
Gillian to the possibility of a bad married life with him.
The book, and the movie certainly do justice to the times they were released in and open eyes
on despondent those times were for the coloured races. They certainly pertain even to today’s
times-in the rise of the once dormant Ku Klux Klan in the U.S, and are a must read and
must watch respectively.
CHAPTER 5
 CONCLUSION:

The movie is a revelation on the racial society that existed in London during the 50’s and
60’s. It combines human emotions and classroom drama with the backdrop of a prejudiced
society to form a socio-educational entertainment. It highlights how racism erodes into the
emotions of the coloured and blacks that seem to be a regular affair for the whites. It mainly
highlights the influence of elders and peers in a community-most traits, including a racist
mentality-are acquired. They are imitated. It stresses on how important it is for people to
work towards their own development.
After completing my thesis, I have identified how the East end London developed and how
this is one of the pioneering movies in showcasing the upliftment of the inhabitants of this
area. It also portrays the social conditions that were prevailing in those times- Capitalism,
Racism, and The Great Depression – that led to unemployment. The movie also focuses on
the social evils like juvenile delinquency and indulgence in contraband products, existed in
the east end London backward areas. The movie is also compared scene by scene with the
book of the same name authored by E R Braithwaite and we notice that considerable changes
have occurred from the period ie.50s when the book was written to 60s when the movie was
made. In these times, changes such as anti-racial laws were already enacted and therefore
much of the racist content was edited for reasons of context and brevity.
The cast of the movie was very aptly choses as Sidney Poitier plays the role of an angst
victim of Race hate and rebellion in the class. He has already been the cast for similar such
movies like “Lilies of The Field”-for which he got the Academy Award, and was the First
black to receive it- and “Guess who’s coming to Dinner.” Th supporting cast-Judy Geeson,
Christian Roberts and Lulu also played the role of rebellious-teens-turned-mature-adults with
great conviction and maturity. Suzy Kendal who played Gillian Blanchard also did as
stunning job as the teacher who began to like Mark Thackeray-the role essayed by Poitier-but
did not open up, the major difference in the book which had a few pages devoted to their
budding relationship. The supporting actors Geoffrey Bayldon (Theo Weston), Patricia
Routledge (Clinty Clintridge), and Faith Brook (Grace Evans) also perform marvellously and
keep the staffroom banter alive.
The movie has some epic moments which bring out the gradual development in the movie.
From the scene where Thackeray shouts at the class at the top of his voice-for their vile deed
of burning a sanitary napkin in class-to the end where he is so overwhelmed on receiving the
gift that words fail to come, the movie has surely seen depth in the students and the teacher’s
character.
The title song “To Sir, With Love” sung by Lulu as well as the extended version captures the
glimpse of the entire movie through its poignant lyrics and bound to leave many teary eyed.
The movie is a good value for entertainment, emotion, and social relevance. It is the best way
to convey the fact that colour is skin deep, and very touchingly showcases the bond between
a teacher and student under a social backdrop. It is a refreshing tale that is certainly ahead of
its times and can be related to even today.
ANNEXURE A
 REFERANCES

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Film
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phi_phenomenon
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phi_phenomenon#Persistence_of_vision
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cinema_of_the_United_States
http://understandingfilm.wikifoundry.com/page/1.+Textual+Analysis
https://sites.google.com/a/guhsd.net/the-blind-side/sociological-analysis-1
http://actioncutprint.com/filmmaking-articles/filmmakingarticle-04/
https://stephaniet2.wordpress.com/2013/10/23/critical-essay-3-blackboard-jungle/
https://blog.cinemaautopsy.com/2009/01/21/film-review-the-class-2008/
http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-fridayreview/parichay-
1972/article4510402.ece
http://www.twincities.com/2012/04/26/monsieur-lazhar-review-engaging-french-character-
study-given-the-ideal-setting-a-classroom/
http://offscreen.com/view/unacceptable-truth
http://www.antiromantic.com/summary/
http://inezescandon.weebly.com/uploads/1/
http://mynotesliterature.blogspot.in/2015/02/analysis-of-movie-taare-zameen-per.html
http://inezescandon.weebly.com/uploads/1/8/4/9/18495120/standanddelivermediaanalysis.pdf
http://www.rediff.com/movies/2005/aug/26iqbal.htm
https://rameshtalks.wordpress.com/tag/analysis-from-management-perspective-of-chak-de-
india/
http://www.spiritualityandpractice.com/films/reviews/view/4664
https://www.ukessays.com/essays/english-literature/overview-of-the-movie-coach-carter-
english-literature-essay.php
https://www.enotes.com/topics/the-freedom-writers-diary/themes
http://www.spiritualityandpractice.com/films/reviews/view/16443/freedom-writers
https://www.reviewessays.com/Music-and-Movies/Half-Nelson/29819.html
http://www.brighthubeducation.com/homework-help-literature/121226-the-symbols-and-
symbolism-in-october-sky/
http://www.british60scinema.net/book-to-film-adaptations-in-the-1960s/to-sir-with-love/
https://www.google.co.in/search?sourceid=chrome-psyapi2&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-
8&q=miscene%20scene%20costumes&oq=miscene%20scene%20costumes
%20&aqs=chrome..69i57.6563j0j8
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Racism_in_the_United_Kingdom
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Depression_in_the_United_Kingdom
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brothers_Grimm
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dick_Whittington_and_His_Cat
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dick_Whittington_and_His_Cat
https://bellatory.com/fashion-industry/Fashion-History-Victorian-Costume-and-Design-
Trends-1837-1900-With-Pictures
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/East_End_of_London_in_popular_culture
http://www.subzin.com/quotes/M52361c21/To+Sir%2C+with+Love/What%27s+a+barrow
%3F
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0062376/combined
http://www.cockneyrhymingslang.co.uk/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhyming_slang
https://www.goodreads.com/work/quotes/2147453-to-sir-with-love
ANNEXURE B
 TABULAR ANALYSIS

SCENE TEXTUAL CHARACTER SOCIOLOGICA REMARKS

DESCRIPTION ANALYSIS ANAYLSIS L ANALYSIS
The women in The These women The scene is
the bus, characters are from shot in Aldgate
(Rose, and Ms. talk the east that leads from
Joseph in the loudly, end of the main city
book) sex merely London, as to the east
cackle loudly, a joke to Thackeray end. The women
discuss their them, meets Ms. certainly pull
pleasantries going on Joseph at of the Eat End
and cackle in their the market Cockney accent
loudly. ribaldry; place. They and the
unaware of belong to screechy voce
their the lesser well.
surroundin educated Thackeray looks
gs, they and lesser on amused, and
come dignified at their
across as sections. conversation
garish and and noticing
loud to a details such as
bystander. the commonness
of the people.
Can be
deciphered from
the book that
they are
talking about
an encounter
with a male
friend.
Thackeray The boy This area This scene is
notices a boy comes is also shot once he is
smoking at the across as known for in the tough
entrance of a vagabond its high London east
the school. who is not rates of end, in North
The boy is into his dealings in Quay secondary
rather education. alcohol, school. The
informal and Thackeray nicotine young actor
goes on seems very and drugs, plays the role
puffing his alarmed at and of a misguided
cigarette, and the nature indulgence youth,
strikes a very of the in vice aimlessly
casual freedom starts puffing his
conversation this boy early on. cigarette.
with him is
enjoying
at the
 school
premises.
When he enters The Lack of The chaos in
the building a students propriety the lives of
girl bumps do not and east Londoners
into him, and seem to be decorum, no is brought out
runs away interested sense of effectively by
abashed, while in cultural the performance
the other education values or of the
girls giggle or focused sophisticat students-shabby
loudly. When in life, ion that attire, unkempt
he enters the they only one hair, smoking
room, he is seem to associates inside the
told that seek with a premises, and a
Hackman is in wanton Briton-a total lack of
the staffroom pleasure pure white classroom
and that he etiquette.
can join him.
He goes to the Weston is Thackeray The general
staffroom, sarcastic again hears term is lamb
meets Weston rude and a racist for slaughter.
and mistakes spiteful jibe at his Weston plays
him for who will skin tone the cynical
Hackman. seldom which he character,
Weston calls give the knows he delivering his
him a black system a must ignore sarcastic lines
sheep for second by now, with the
slaughter. He chance. He after perfect
also tells him feels that facing expressions-
that Hackman the worse forms forced laughing
has quit; children of and smiling and
complaining to are up to prejudice. curt eye
the divisional no good. movements. His
officer by own mannerisms
now. seem very
shabby, tough.
He also jokes
on racist
tones.
Ms. Dale Evans Evans is a Thackeray The banter that
enters and lively has always follows, shows
soon they have person, considered perfectly that
a conversation unlike the himself to Evans knows how
about how he childlike, be a American
had his first insecure British English sounds-
appointment. character Guiana and changes her
who keeps native, dialect at once
whispering except the as she uses the
amusing years he words “Major
details spent in” place of
about her training in “subjects.” He
 colleagues California, says during the
and feels conversation
the British that the
way of life weather is
always better in
influenced California
him right which is his
from school way of
days. expressing that
However, his times have
Britain been better
made him with much
realise lesser
that he can humiliation and
never be a prejudice. In
white-a the book,
true Braithwaite is
Briton. He recognized as a
also felt service
that racism personnel, due
in the U.S to hid
led to mannerisms and
revolutions he says he was
that working with
brought R.A.F.
about
change,
while here,
specific
laws were
enacted to
protect the
colored,
and it was
done very
covertly.
The teachers Evans is This Evans
start pouring empathetic further emphatically
in and Evans about the reveals states the
tells them state of The issues condition of
that a girl affairs, that the the girl. the
needs to have and feels youth face way she says-
a bath sorry in the “fourteen and
arranged as about the underdevelo helpless”-
sheis fourteen standard ped shanty crisply, makes
and has of living. areas of the audience
hygiene the Far relate to her
issues; and east-least condition
has no one to access to
help personal
and
 menstrual
hygiene,
and poor
monitory
facilities
to afford
sanitary
napkins
Weston keeps Weston Weston Here “row back
criticizing plays a derides him to your home”
and sounds harsh, on racist means sail back
demotivating ill- grounds and to your colored
about the job, tempered, looks down nation.
and asks him and racist on the Idiomatic
to “Row home man. children racist language
if he can” for their is used at
slovenly, “native
brash ways colored”
of living migrated to
Britain.
Gillian tells The camera Gillian is The school Her expression
Thackeray that zooms in to friendly, does not change to a
they a close up warm, and have grim one when
encouraged her of her honest, corporal she narrates
as well. There facial which punishment her experience,
is something expressions makes her as and she says
frightening that change an mentioned with
and when she interestin in the book bewilderment
challenging talks. g person that free that there is
about the to talk discipline no corporal
school and to. is a way to punishment, and
that There is mold them her expressions
no form of better, and convey that as
corporal is a take a female
punishment away from teacher, she is
the grim at a thorough
atmospheres disadvantage.
from their
homes.
Music starts The scene While The midday Weston may have
to waft into ends with a Clinty is dance had better
the staffroom, high angle warm and session, vibes with
and Weston shot of a outgoing, according Hackman, maybe
says that the seated Dowes is to the book because he was
midday dance Weston and not that was white, and he
session is a slightly outgoing, introduced may not be
just a way of low angle but she to give the happy with the
teacher of Dowes, still children children making
baiting, and in the same wants exposure to Hacking retire
the volume is frame, Thackeray various or a black
unusually which makes to teach, genres and taking his
higher to Dowes, as she artists of place. The cold
celebrate over seems as feels music, vibes shared
Hackman’s the more those right from between Dowes
retirement. dominating children Chopin to and Weston is
The scene is person need a the well portrayed,
shot as a despite teacher. Beatles, too.
staffroom Weston’s and broaden
discussion, coldness. their
turned into tastes
argument
between Weston
and Dowes who
tells him that
they are just
baiting
teachers-their
favorite
pastime, and
Josy Dowes who
tells him he
can be less
discouraging;
Weston
replying that
it is the last
thing he’d do.
They go to the There are Pamela The east Thackeray is
dance floor various seems End appreciative of
and see all fast paced unabashed Londoners their dance
the children cuts of and are brought till he sees
dancing boys and outgoing, up in an Pamela’s crude
together. girls and atmosphere behaviour.
Pamela Dares dancing to surprises with less Difference in
comes over, indicate Thackeray or without the English
provocatively fast who social or used in movie
shakes her dynamism in expects cultural as from that
waist, and the scene. girls to norms and used in book-
asks them if have some taboo. It’s old day Jive is
they’d “shake” decorum. okay for replaced by
them to contemporary
have boys shake, and
standing scenes are cut
near them, down for
and giving brevity.
all the
attention
they seek.
Thackeray goes Thackeray 1) Racism E.R Braithwaite
to meet has the Point of in his book has
Florian and dignity to view: recounted an
has a chat tell Depicts entire chapter
about his job, Florian shows how on how he sat
where his that he he has been through jobs,
qualifications has been rendered and after
are discussed, unemployed the seeing his
and Thackeray in his unemployed color, the
tells him of field for black who interview was
his and year has all the just a charade.
unemployment and a qualificati He was left as
for the last half, and ons, and a qualified,
one and half wants to how racism colored
years. He is accept the is unemployed
then told that job even practiced because of
these children after the undercover, racism. This is
are rejects conditions with no cut to a mere
from other . He is rules to mention in this
schools and accepting protect the scene.
the local it without colored.
authorities much 2) The
don’t favor expectatio whites in
this school’s n the East
policies. He end are
handles his another
success or spectrum of
failure. the society
who are
equally
badly off,
having no
future,
albeit
being
whites.
The scenes at Denham Thackeray Denham plays
the class, plays the begins to the part of a
where the role of a realize rebellious
children rebel who that Weston youth in the
answer their hates the is true, East end well-
attendance authority and he is talking the
sloppily, that the at a double coarse Cockney
display poor new disadvantag accent, dressed
reading teacher is e also roguish jerkins
skills, and going to because he and stained
show little command. is black. polo shirt, and
interest in Pamela messy hair.
class, behave plays a Words like
spitefully coquettish “Bloody nigger”
towards him. girl, who have been used
They also seem is also in the book
to know less, liked by against the
about which all the character of
they are boys. Braithwaite,
amused. the times when
Thackeray racial
points this prejudices were
out rather probably worse.
sarcastically
and ends up
rubbing them
on the wrong
side.
At his chat The first Clinty is She tells Clinty has the
with Clinty few chats helpful Thackeray grimness and
she reveals about the and makes that the empathy in her
about the students’ him feel kids come tone and
children’s background at home. from homes expression, and
family is shot She also where the she understands
background to face to seems to concept of his, rather
him. face, and know how family their
then it is to deal bonding is disadvantage.
shot with with him. less. One
Clinty’s rude word
back to their
against parents and
his, then they have
closing in it, and an
to her order is
alone, followed by
indicating a blow.
the Here they
seriousness have free
, concern discipline
in her and hold
tone. the
teachers
ransom.
Thackeray goes The Denham The wanton,
to the class, students corrupts spiteful
where Denham are his name expressions are
picks on his hateful saying conveyed well
name, and towards “Hisguff” by the
leaves the him and out of students,
class, banging uninterest racist maintained
the door shut. ed in feelings, anger and is
Potter shakes life, and and the well conveyed
the desk, don’t class joins by Poitier who
distracting understand in planned in the end ,
the whole the value non- tries to
class, and of cooperation maintain his
they are education. . They are cool, as he
occupied with clearly the tells them to
him. They purposeless do their work,
ensure Denham lot of the although he’s
misses society, disgusted and
nothing, when and the defeated
he’s gone. In school is inside.
the end concerned
Thackeray, who about their
had planned to upliftment,
make class fun independenc
for them, e
tells them in
a low voice to
do their work.
Thackeray Thackeray Weston is Education Thackeray is
tells Gillian is seen acrid and is a job in seen trying for
he feels bad applying bitter in London that a job, even
for the kids; for a job his speech has been during the
they barely during the apart from considered conversations
know to read. conversatio being thankless, with Gillian
Weston tells n, pessimisti especially and Weston,
him that they indicated c and for a because he
have a bag of by a makes delinquency feels his
tricks to fool cutaway Thackeray infested classes are
the teacher, shot of a rethink, area like going nowhere.
he also points close of even as the east The expression
out harsh him Gillian end, full on Thackeray’s
reality: circling tries to of face change
Education is a the job reassure rebellious abruptly from a
waste and a advertiseme him. youth. They smile to a
thankless job. nt. would pained feeling
These kids however as he drops his
would be somehow pencil
earning twice survive and dejectedly, and
as much while land a job says no
he will be at the progress is
part of the docks, happening.
poor masses. while the
teachers
would stay
stagnant.
The scenes Thackeray The Tendency Series of close
that follow inspecting students towards up shots are
irk Thackeray the edge of lack juvenile taken to convey
no end. Pamela the table empathy, delinquency the intensity
purposely leg and hate being is visible and meaning
drops a pile rubbing it, corrected as they can better. The
of books; taken in and can go go to any editing is done
calling them a close up, to any extent to brilliantly to
“bleeding indicates extent to harm showcase
pile”; that it has get rid someone who spontaneous and
incurring been sawn someone changes way impulsive
Thackeray’s off. Series who comes of living. reactions.
indignation. of slow their way. There also Cutaway shots
Jane Purcel cuts from existed an and insert
deliberately Thackeray’s Inner shots are very
opens the lid shocked London precise: E.g.
of her desk face (CU), juvenile as they change
that makes a to Pamela’s Court; in to their places
squeaky sound, amusement, Toynbee by going over
and calls it a to Hall, their desks,
“bleeding Thackeray during 1929 treading their
desk”, and enraged and to 1953, to books, insert
blatantly looking at check shots of a
tells the class criminal disgusted
Thackeray that in disgust. behavior. Thackeray are
he’s not her 8 quick It is also seen. When
bleeding series of mentioned Purcel spits
father to cuts to in the book out that he is
correct her. indicate that Seals not her
The children the fast got tried bleeding
saw off the manner in in these father, there’s
edge of the which the courts, for an insert shot
table which he ice is injuring a of a curt look
rests on and dropped, young male, on Thackeray’s
places his and the which got face. Sidney
things, making instant edited for Poitier’s
him fall over, reactions. brevity in controlled
and drop an Cutaways the film. voice sounds
ice packet and insert intimidating as
that narrowly shots of he’s shown
misses him Poitier’s seething
expression within.
are added Extreme
to show proximity
that he is between Denham
disapprovin and Pamela is
g of their shown as she
behavior. leans into him
and lets him
touch her
unabashed.
Thackeray’s Scenes Thackeray Remarriage
concern for shown as is a and poor
his students: slowly cut patient family
is visible he and faded man hard establishme
asks Seals why montages. worker nts, which
he is standing Poitier whose affect the
out alone, staring at patience life of
smoking and the books, is being these young
moping. Seals walking at tested to individuals
tells him that the window, the -tendency
he hates his to a front maximum. of
father because shot of him He still psychopathy
he remarried revealing feels /
English. He his worries bound by sociopathy.
reads on how as he looks Florian’s
to teach the out, to a dictum of
slow learner, prolonged helping
which fails. back shot, them to
He looks at revealing the
the books moments of fullest.
scattered; solitude,
feels worried to fades
for the shot of the
children; clock
gazes out of ticking,
the window, and the
and fails to camera
sleep peace moves to
fully as the his fingers
clock is shown hitting the
ticking while sofa, and
he’s still his eyes
awake. open
indicating
that he’s
still
awake.
When he enters 1) Placing The He realizes Florian
the class he the scene students that their greeting
smells where have coming from Thackeray and
something Thackeray managed to the East Thackeray
burning, and greets stretch End can’t telling him
goes to see Florian and Thackeray’ shield that thing are
the source. It tells him patience their fine; this seen
is a sanitary his classes to the misconduct is
napkin burning are fine is fullest for long. intentionally
and he is more an and he placed between
furious. He indication ends up the throwing of
drives the of the next losing his the ice packet
boys out and day’s temper. He and burning of
he tells the chaos. is alarmed tampon
girls that he 2) at their indicating
tired of their Extended slovenly irony of the
crude manners close up of behavior situation.
and slovenly Thackeray’s and lack The fact that
manners. It is shifty of ability it is tampon is
shameful that eyes, not to keep clearly
they can’t towards the private mentioned in
keep personal class, matters the book, and
things indicates private. this scene can
private. He he’s be understood
asks them to smelling only by those
clear the room something. who read it.
and keep their 3) When he
filthy games yells at
at their the boys to
homes. move out,
fast paced
bass
trumpet
music to
indicate
conflict
with 17
shots in
less a
minute
equally
fast paced
cuts,
indicating
anger and
tension.
Thackeray Close up of He feels These kids The scene seems
storms into dramaticall that in the east to rise in
the staffroom y changing treating end of dynamism and
room and goes expression grown London are drop suddenly
into a rant as on adults, fully grown as Thackeray
to how these Thackeray’s with and have realizes that
kids made him face, which maturity attained the cause of
lose his changes would help physical the problem is
shirt; and from anger, than and sexual the semantics
that they are to treating maturity. itself- “kids.”
devil disbelievin and But sadly, Empowerment
incarnate. g surprise referring their would follow if
Getting angry to relief. to them as growth the “kids” was
was one thing kids. They stops with replaced by
that he had had been just being “adults” and
sworn not to too just they were
do. He then mollycoddl physical as treated as
says “kids”, ed by the they seem such.
and snaps his rule of to know
finger, and the much less
exclaims school, for their
“that’s it”, which age
with the sense encouraged
of relief, as free
if he has disciple.
unearthed a
discovery.
Gillian looks
puzzled.
He goes in the From here, This scene
class, and Thackeray opens our
starts with an establishe eyes to the
unexpected act s himself much-needed
of throwing as a upliftment
the books in teacher that was
the dust bin, who will needed in
and tells them not give the lives
that they will up and is of the East
be adults with seen as a End
full pioneering inhabitants
responsibility leader Thackeray
, shortly. He till the understands
also tells rest of that they
them to behave the movie. are from
and treat each the simpler
other as masses but
adults. that need
not account
for their
misconduct.
Thackeray Camera cuts Thackeray Thackeray
further goes to a close makes them corrects Pamela
on to tell up of a rise to by using
them how to chattering the level negative
address each Pamela to of an reinforcement
other with indicate adult by, and strong
courtesy, how that she is and at the sarcastic
to listen to a going to be same time language. He
lecture referred points out tells the class
without to. to them that Pamela
interrupting, that their displayed
and how to behavior bratty behavior
have their say is not up and asks her if
one at a time. to the she could
He also tells standards demonstrate an
them how to of a prim adult one
enter the and proper
classroom adult.
politely and
decently, even
as Pamela
barges in.
The changes in Thackeray This movie Characters Jane
the classroom is a man is way Purcell and
go on to new much ahead ahead of Denham are
heights as of his its times shown breaking
Thackeray asks times and in terms of into a grin as
them to his the Concept their Sir lays
observe principles of down rules. The
courtesies, by are based Feminism. children are
calling the on long Feminism is shown
young women as term not about introspecting
Miss; the boys results male even as he
by their and common berating. talks- the boys
surnames and sense, It is not examine their
himself as Sir rather the long hair for
or Mr. than opposite of instance as he
Thackeray. He sitting on male says it’s
tells also the moral chauvinism. unhygienic.
tells them high It’s merely When Potter
that all men chair. creating an asks him why he
prefer atmosphere must call them
cultured women where males with respect,
and only the and females the question is
worst type can coexist turned back at
would opt for and treat him- “is there
a slut. He each other anyone who you
tells the as equals, think is
young men that a concept undeserving”?
garbage which is Puts him in a
collectors are misundersto tight spot to
cleaner than od in answer. He
most of them. today’s creates a
He tells them times. situation where
to keep their they’re forced
hair clean- to admit that
lest it should they are equals
get infested and complement
with lice and each other.
stench- if Here slut does
they wish to not mean an
grow it. They insult. It
would appeal refers to the
to girl only slovenly
they kept manners of
themselves girls, such as
hygienic. a lack of
decency in
keeping
personal
matters
personal. In
old English,
many words have
had a milder
and different
meaning and
should not be
considered
antifeminist.
More The passage The The Denham,
correction and of time children children although not
progress when he are quick have low willingly,
ensues as last met to with exposure so addresses him
Barbara points Florian examples when they as sir. This is
out Weston’s before in front meet people a small
poor hygiene class seems of them who set beginning of
standards. greater and point contradicto classroom
Poitier says because of flaws. ry etiquette and
that the the They examples, improvement in
comparison quietness compare Like Weston their lives
they have is that has themselves and
him, and they set in. with Thackeray,
can complain people they do not
if he is not with set know who to
unto it. lower relate to.
Unfair standards,
dealings or and
behaviour from Thackeray
adults is tells them
something they to set
must learn to higher
adjust to as standards
adults. He for
removes the comparison
shades a boy .
had been
wearing, even
as Florian is
surprised to
see a
disciplined
class. He then
says they can
talk about
anything they
want-love,
death,
survival, sex,
marriage or
rebellion
In the dance There are Although Thackeray
floor, during match cuts Pamela and has just
the midday used in Barbara introduced
dance session, this scene are not them to the
Denham coerces a mid-long accustomed “prim and
Pamela and shot of to being proper”
Barbara to Denham, addressed British way
dance in a match cut with of living.
ruffian with the respect,
manner; tapping they are
Barbara mocks feet of thrilled,
at his uncouth Barbara, although
ways and asks and his mid they find
him to “ask long shot it funny.
propah” and cut with Denham is
dances with Pamela, still
Potter, who indicating rebellious
asks her out he is and wants
chivalrously. gazing at to spite
Denham is them. This his sir.
furious at his scene fades
insult and he into the
remembers he next
can ask indicating
anything in anticipatio
class. n.
The next day Thackeray Thackeray Denham is harsh
in class has enlightens and critical,
Denham tells prepared them that his word are
him about for the customs and also ignorant
seeing naked class and practices and rash. He
black women come with develop as crudely points
dancing around an open an out that South
a bonfire. mind, co adaptation Africans are
This starts an he does to the white, taking a
interesting not take weather and jibe at
debate on Denham’s climatic Thackeray’s
customs and question conditions skin tone.
traditions. as an prevalent
affront, there. He
but as a also tells
sign of them that
ignorance he is
about race British
evolution. Guiana and
He knows not south
that race African. A
hate must native of a
be country is
absolved a native
early on irrespectiv
lest it e of color
develops He also
into tells them
hatred at that
adulthood. proving
difference
and marking
change is a
form of
rebellion,
like their
hairstyles.
The Thackeray He cites
conversation answers the
goes to change them Gandhian
when Pamela calmly Dictum of
asks how once the bringing in
important it archetypic peaceful
is to change al student change,
to be teacher however
different to relationsh differs
change. ip has from his
Thackeray gone, and dictum by
cites the has become saying that
example of the a they should
Beatles who friendlier act as
brought about one when individual
a peaceful he as possible
revolution clarifies and not as
just by their their a mob,
fashion and doubts and compared to
music. tries to Mahatma
soften Gandhi, who
their was then
rigid mobilizing
mind-set. the people
power in
the nation.
He mentions a Thackeray Here He remarks that
point that and the Thackeray their hairdos
grabs their students empathizes are more than
interest. He are seen with the two hundred
tells them bonding children years old and
that there is here and their costumes
an exhibition despite realizes are out of
at the their that they 1920, about 40
Victoria difference indeed are years ago,
Albert Museum, s and he from stern which brings a
as well as the feels that families, howl of
Museum of he should where amusement from
Natural help them declining the class.
History. the errands
They’d realize maximum would be
that their extent accompanied
hairstyles and possible. by blows.
costumes are He He offers
way out of understand to help
league. They s their them go see
express their shortcomin the
inability to gs, and exhibition.
go because of has fully
chores and well
responsibiliti understood
es at home. their
Pamela circumstan
suggests that ces.
he could take
them one
morning.
Thackeray asks The class, This
how many of with a few characteristic
them are exceptions of raising the
willing, and is ready other hand as
all of them for the well as a proxy
except Denham trip and for an
raise their look unwilling
hand. The boy excited. person-so that
in the front It is for the class does
urges him to the first not lose out-is
raise, and time that a déjà vu
lifts his there is a moment as it
other hands as tranquil happens even in
a proxy for moment in today’s
him. the class, scenario, and
with is very
everyone endearing to
in union see
with each
other.
Florian is Thackeray In the book, it
unwilling with is is depicted
this idea when dismayed that Florian
Thackeray goes because already knows
to approach his gut who Thackeray
him. He feels feeling will approach,
it’s certainly tells him it is
a risk, and it it will Blanchard.
would make the work. He
attempt look even
flashy and the points out
school look as to Florian
it is showing who
off, and it promised
would be hard him no
to supervise interventi
all of them. on as long
He however as it was
says that he in their
can go to a best
staff and interests.
request for Florian is
help. concerned
because he
is wary of
Hackman’
class.
The next day An extreme He wants Thackeray The scene
even as he close up of to bring is among showcases
posts letters, the letter his the irony: he is
he approaches reveals is students unemployed applying for
Gillian to applying up to face masses, jobs-which
accompany him for jobs, the which had towards the end
to the museum; even as he society also been he rejects-and
he is seen posts the and yet at deprived of on the other
posting other few, the same a job for a hand he is
letters in the as the time he is year due to shown eager
mail box. camera skeptical his color. about his
zooms away about his This also current job as
revealing success brings in a teacher.
the mail with them. the concept 2)he also gets
box and of Gillian’s name
then his capitalism wrong and
face as he in the fumbles a bit
is mailing city, the when he talks,
marked indicating that
differences he likes her.
between the
bourgeoisie
classes and
the working
classes.
Thackeray has The Thackeray When Thackeray
a discussion students introduces asks him about
on marriage, (including to them the how Mrs. Purcel
and he evokes Denham) harsh is doing post
pretty are reality of child birth,
interesting innately survival- she tells him
answers. He is innocent that they that she after
told that Ms. youngsters are the all has just
Purcel has had and seem have-nots: become a
a sister to be he for hi mother. He
through home enjoying race and feels awkward
delivery. He their they for as he doesn’t
is asked why classes, the relate to that
he didn’t get as they community statement. He
married, to seem they are had expected
which he says exposed to born in. the delivery to
that he was harsh but they happen in
poor and realities. can still hospital. The
wanted to get Denham is rise above children are
educated. He annoyed it and make moved by his
mentions the because of wonders if experiences of
times when he the they want raw humanities;
did odd jobs supremacy to. This which is
for a living, sir is makes the obvious by the
like commanding hideousness surprised look
dishwashing, and he, in nature of a on their faces.
cooking, and every capitalisti When Thackeray
working as possible c society sees Denham
both a waiter way wants starker, doing his
and a janitor. to disrupt where young business behind
He talks about the peace children the desk, he
the days when and ruffle are part of goes up
he spoke the the waged stealthily,
simpler feathers workers, which can be
English, a on who are made out from
patch wire Thackeray’ hired by the distraction
form and gives s head. the in his voice.
them a Thackeray bourgeoisie As a remark at
demonstration knows how classes. He Denham’s
he sees Denham to manage also disgusting
up to no good him acquaints behaviour, he
behind the lid because he them as to says that
of his desk. is the how he marriage is for
even while only faced same strong people
he’s talking upstart in harsh and not the
about putting the class, struggles weak.
in effort to and still of
succeed, on manages to unemploymen
working on maintain t and hi
one’s the language
language, and interest was poor
about his of his too.
training in children.
South America,
he goes up to
Denham, tears
up the nude
poster in his
desk and
thrashes the
lid shut. As a
way of
referring to
his disgusting
act he says
marriage is
not for the
weak, selfish,
and insecure.
i) The When Weston It is Thackeray is
teachers in Florian still has mentioned cool and
the staff room gives him a chip on here that composed, and
are discussing permission his President gives
America as a to proceed shoulder (Lyndon diplomatic
source of for the about Johnson) answers even as
anarchy in the outing, he being a did not Weston lets his
nation. They also says faculty attend cruel barbs at
also discuss he has a member and Winston the kids and
the president huge learning Churchill’s talks
not attending responsibil manners funeral. disapprovingly.
Churchill’s ity. If from the The vice
funeral. He anything morons, president
sent the vice goes wrong, but he is Humphrey
president. the school actually was
Winston calls would insecure supposed
it appalling suffer. A that they attend it
and stupid. worrisome have on his
ii) Tich Thackeray refined behalf,
Jackson comes is taken themselves along with
in and says he from a high and in the
wants to angle terms of Secretary
borrow the net perspective courtesy, of State
ball for “Ms. shot. The are better Dean Rusk.
Pegg.” Weston next behaved It was some
is highly Gillian than he is sort of
cynical of smiling at political
their use of him, which backlash.
manners, and is a match They feel
asks Thackeray shot. U.S is a
if he has to developed
follow suit. superpower,
Thackeray just which is
tells him to also an
please anarchist,
himself. Josy because of
Dowes points the way
out that it’s they manage
not a bad idea their
to learn internal
manners from and global
anyone, even affairs.
if it’s your They are
student. known for
iii) The the misuse
principal of nuclear
Florian says weapons in
permission for various
the outing has nations,
been granted. which does
Thackeray not appeal
looks even to
nervously at their
Gillian, who allies.
gives him a
reaffirming
smile.
The next scene Thackeray Thackeray
is very is shown is
endearing as bonding introduced
Thackeray well with to the
enters the the class, cockney
class and sees and the rhyming
them well student slang,
dressed, teacher which was
according to chassis prevalent
fashions of seems to in their
various be bridged area,
countries and with love amidst many
styles. They and others
also look very admiration round the
poised and , as they globe. This
well trust him slang is
presented. to be based on
There is a someone phoneticall
light-hearted who is a y rhyming
moment that friend sounds
the entire philosophe substituted
class shares r and with
when Tich and guide. semantic
Potter share link
when they between the
stumble over actual word
the pile of and the
clothes Tich substitute.
has to give E.g.
his mother for “trouble
laundry. The and strife”
students teach is wife,
him what the “apple and
cockney pears is
rhyming slang. stairs”;
so, if
someone
said, “I
went up the
apple”, it
meant he
went up the
stairs.
Here
Thackeray
asks why
toad is
mentioned,
he says it
is because
“up the
frog and
toad” means
 road.
The museum The visuals The The The lyrics are
scene which is are edited students, Victoria indeed very
shot as a to the through Albert poignant and
montage lyrics of the museum and very natural:
featuring many the process of the museum “how do you
sculptures of Mindbenders gaining of natural thank someone
the Roman Gods and Lulu exposure history is who’s taken you
Cupid and featured to also start a wonderful from crayons to
Venus Sir with liking and place to perfume”-even
juxtaposed love. The loving visit to as a girl
with the girls song has their know about gleefully tries
trying makeup, different teacher the branded
with some boys lyrics as with a evolution lipstick.
gaping at the sense of of mankind.
animal fossils extended gratitude They also
in amazement. version and love get
dedicated for exposure to
to him in providing the
the end. them with Elizabethan
The scene the and
is shot as experience Victorian
a montage. Era when
fashion and
couture had
reached new
standards.
As Gillian and The scenes Thackeray In the The scene is
Thackeray talk are shot as is amused book, the shot one after
and laugh, back to by the students the other to
Pamela and back fact that are mark the irony.
Barbara guess conversatio Gillian criticized While the girls
that Thackeray ns to should for going think he likes
fancies indicate find with a Gillian-which
Gillian while the irony Pamela a black, to is true,
ironically competitio which Gillian thinks
Gillian tells n. Pamela he likes
him that retorts Pamela.
Pamela has a that it’s
crush on Him. her sir.
Thackeray This shows
laughs and that they
says she’s no take
different from positive
the rest. values and
Gillian says reinforceme
Pamela’s a nts openly.
woman in the It happens
true sense of at young
the world. The and tender
girls ages
meanwhile talk
about going
with him as
he’s nice, and
that he’s got
a rotten taste
to like her.
Gillian’s Pamela is 1) The The difference
words on shown as Wembley in the book and
Pamela’s clingy and stadium the movie:
behaviour get needy, those days delinquency is
validated by because was built passed off as
her overtly she is for the mentioned while
polite growing cricket in the book it
behaviour. up, and an enthusiast is a complete
1) She offers infatuatio as the game court case
to tidy his n is has just based chapter.
desk though he realistica originated The way the
says it lly shown and was hand is cut is
wouldn’t be as part of played as also described
needed and growing the differently in
says she’ll up, “gentleman’ the movie.
keep her ears especially s” game in Thackeray
open for if one England. It happens to be
lodging where doesn’t was sewing the
he can stay know how everyone’s football when
nearby. to deal fancy to he cuts his
2) He goes with it or spend a few hand while
over to meet be subtle extra sewing it in
his children about it. shillings the last hole.
at the to watch Maybe this got
playground. He events rendered
tells them there. The obsolete in the
that they can Liverpool late 60’s when
go to outings was also a the book
with fascinating released, and
permission and place to basic air pumps
asks them for see must have
suggestions. concerts already become
Ideas like the like popular. The
Wembley Phantom of scene is also
Cricket the opera simplified for
stadium and and the context and
Liverpool for Beatles brevity.
the Beatles perform.
come up. He 2) The
then realizes students
that they are were mostly
under juvenile
supervision criminal
order for and had
vandalism- supervision
“playing order by
truant and the law, a
cussing he mentioned
cops”. in detail
Suddenly Even in the
as he talks, a book, when
tin can comes Seals is
hurling at the tried at a
students, court for
which he grabs attempting
cutting his murder.
hand. Pamela 3) Pamela
immediately feels Seals
reacts and should
shows concern. stand up
Potter says he for their
surprised to sir because
see red blood, he is half
and Pamela coloured-he
expresses her is from the
indignation at Jewish
his “racist community
remark” which which
even their sir flourishes
didn’t take in a
offence at. An textile
altercation business.
follows
between
Potter, Seals,
Denham and
Pamela, where
Denham points
out that he
fancies
Thackeray
Thackeray Thackeray Thackeray
teaches them is patient inculcates
to make a and important
normal English teaches life skills
salad, which them and teaches
they would essential them that
have to, given lessons of raising the
a chance to life and quality of
live alone. He reality their life
also makes it that he is their
clear that feels are responsibil
survival is just as ity. They
irrespective important are no
of the gender. as math different
They could and from the
live well if science. other well
they wanted The to do
to. He teaches children sections.
them the are Minimal
recipe, when equally money could
Jane Purcel interested ensure that
enters with to attend lived a
the baby. She and make good life
did not want arrangemen if they
to miss the ts to spent it
class, while attend judiciously
her mother was despite .
in the having
hospital. As difficulti
he teaches es.
Pamela gazes
at him love-
struck, which
doesn’t go
unnoticed
Thackeray is Thackeray Evans also There are
shown talking is having mentions subtle hints in
about this never that it is the book about
problem to before difficult Gillian and
Evan, who experience to get Thackeray’s
tells him to s in his quality relation. The
be patient job as his teachers, courtship in
about it, and student as the job the hotel,
not spend time sees him was already which was
alone with as a crush losing its mentioned in
her. She is a and it is value. They the book was
fully-grown disturbing were at the filmed and has
woman, and he and bottom of been counted as
is the only embarrassi the pile, a deleted
real man he ng. Evans she says. scene. There
met. She asks tells him He is the are pictures of
him why he it’s first Suzy Kendall
didn’t share better not influential and Sidney
this with to jump teacher who Poitier in the
Gillian, the gun, has taken internet
deliberately, but be innovative showing them
knowing that patient. steps like dining at the
he likes her class Maître d’hôtel,
outings and Poisson d’Or
discussions
as a part
of the
curriculum.
Thackeray The long Thackeray This shows He keeps
drops letters pause of is still the dropping
in the mail the mail optimistic conditions letters in the
box. box on landing of mail box, in
indicates a job. unemploymen the hope that
hope and t in London he secures a
plausibilit after the job in his
y of great stream.
finding a depression,
job; it and the
also stock
indicates market
the crash. The
anticipatio blacks had
n of an it even
ensuing harder
scene because of
relating to their
his finding color.
a job.
He goes to the The 1) The
market place children’s Americans’
to get oranges parents, have earned
for lunch along with the wrath
where he meets their of many
Moira Joseph’s children, countries
mother and have grown worldwide
Jeannie familiar because of
Clark’s with him, their
father. and this totalitaria
Moira’s mother happens n policies
recognizes him many a and inhuman
as her time when ways of
daughter’s the using
sir, ushers teacher is nuclear
him out of the innovative science as
queue, giving and weapons of
him priority. participat mass
Jeannie’s es in the destruction
father tells child’s . They are
him that her interests seen as a
elder sister super power
Penny got that has
married and always
gives some misused
wedding cake. their
He expects technologic
Thackeray to al
know about advancement
their lives . They are
because the seen as
students talk biggest
highly of him. anarchists
He even thanks on the
them for the globe due
museum trip. to their
Moira’s mother act of
adds that bombing the
knowledge is Pearl
good, because harbour;
uneducated and notably
people go Hiroshima,
bombing Nagasaki,
cities. (and later
Joseph’s their war
father says with Iraq).
that it’s the Post World
Americans who War
are relations
responsible with most
for such countries
activities. have taken
They then have a hit.
an argument 2) He
about the notices
yanks which is that
infested with certain
uncivil traits that
behaviour. his
students
have-using
words like
“bleeding”
in the
class, are
learned
behaviour,
as their
parents are
also on an
abuse
rampage.
He has a few Thackeray Thackeray In the movie,
moments of is a man represents they share all
tranquil with of great the their free
Gillian, where grit and struggling hours post
he asks her to determinat coloured of classes
teach the ion, and the U.K, together and
Girls makeup. wants to who strive, have slipped
Gillian asks keep some of who into a pleasant
him why he is striving build up an cadence.
eating so hard. impressive
poor. He says resume, and
he can eat a lose the
lot for job to
breakfast, and their white
dramatically counterpart
explains his s.
preferences in To them
a ravenous every day
voice. He says is a new
he like to struggle to
keep lunch exist and
simple teaches
however. She them that
asks his if he they should
had any luck not expect
with jobs. She much.
also reminds
him of the
time 2 weeks
back he had
told her he
almost lost
the battle. He
says there is
an angel
somewhere
looking after
him.
The P.T Thackeray
period: Mr. teaches
Bells asks all them the
of them to do difference
long jumps. between
They all do Empathy
it, except and
Buckley; whose compassion
gait is fat .
and awkward. Compassion
Mr. Bells is merely
threatens him feeling
to do it and with the
he person
nevertheless accompanie
does it, but d by no
he falls over means to
the pole, and solve that
gets a stitch. person’s
Potter is problem.
furious and Empathy is
takes the thinking
broken log of level
wood, abuses headedly
him and for the
threatens to person
kill him, which
Poitier makes one
intervenes and help the
tells him to person.
help Buckley
he then asks
Bells why he
forced Buckley
to do it. Mr.
Bells is just
worried it
should not
become a big
issue with the
authorities
when it is
raked during
the review
Thackeray Thackeray Thackeray Classroom
tells Potter teaches wishes to manners slip as
that his them self- control the they are
behaviour was discipline rates of pointed out in
in no way , and juvenile this difficult
acceptable. anger felony that situation;
This invites control is existent Potter uses
indignation that would in the area words like
from all, make them and make bleeding and
especially think them bangs the door
Denham. He rationally successful shut.
says there . individuals
will be many .
things that
will annoy
them, taking
arms and
attacking is
not the way to
solve a
matter, or be
adult, to say
least. Potter
is made to
apologize,
which he does
unwillingly.
He is even
told that he
should do it
because he
feels the
need. Denham
tells him that
he has his own
barrow when he
leaves.
Thackeray
can’t touch
him.
Thackeray The The
hands out students national
invitation are back health
letters for to their insurance
the last day devious, policy is
of their term, rebellious provided by
which calls ways as the
for a they feel national
celebration Thackeray health
from the is wrong Services
school. Potter to point England
talks to him them out. that
coldly and they don’t provides
acridly. And understand insurance
tells him the for the
there is dance underlying poor to
and meaning in avail of
celebration. his words good
Thackeray health.
tells him that Denham
to apologize seems
because of oblivious
what he says of that
is wrong. He fact.
should believe
in himself
provided he is
right. He
hands out a
form to Denham
who saucily
fans himself
with it.
Thackeray
tells him to
fill it up to
avail for the
national
health
Insurance
policy.
Seals comes in The camera Denham his In those
and announces focuses on Thackeray days it was
the death of a close up where it considered
his mother. He of his face hurt him batter to
breaks down which has the most- maintain
and hugs sir moist eyes, mention of safe
for comfort. and yet a color to distance
Tich Jackson broad, shirk with a
collects the pained help. black as
money. smile, Thackeray the white
Thackeray indicating feels hurt did not
feels nice how color that his want their
about their had never teaching race to get
humane efforts crept up in on World diluted.
and asks if he class till and human Moreover,
can now and how evolution race hate
contribute. viciously were was so
Denham brushes it did. futile, strong, it
of his they came was
contributions down to considered
ice coldly. He their ignominious
then asks racist to even
Pamela to send instincts patronize
the money to and how! with them.
his place. At times
Thackeray is when
surprised-he someone
asks them why was at the
they won’t go pits and
over with the he needed
flowers. Moira emotional
reveals that help, race
being spotted played an
at a coloured ugly
person’s house disunion.
can get them
disdain in the
society, more
so for women
as they have
to hear harsh
words.
Thackeray is
pained. Pamela
offers to
carry the
flowers. She
tells him that
gossips don’t
worry her. She
has known
seals since
childhood.
Florian tells Florian is The school
him that already has a
Pamela’s skeptical weekly
mother wants about the review
to meet him future of system,
and also tells his when the
him that students. students
treating them He knows recall
like adults they have incidents
didn’t work; criminal that week
they put a records and voice
life at risk and for change-
during an treating this is
anger outburst them like elaborately
at the P.T adult explained
sessions, might in the
which has rebound. book. This
reached the Thackeray information
higher is a goes to the
authorities. practical controller’
Their outings man, he s office.
have been fells they Directly or
suspended. should indirectly,
fall once this matter
in life, might have
get hurt reached
and learn them which
from their caused a
experience suspension.
.
Pamela’s There is a Thackeray This scene
mother tells cutaway to is reveals why
him that her embarrasse the
Pamela stays fidgeting d to know students
away from home with the of her have so
late nights. ring on her liaison much
The area is an finger even and is not concern
unsafe place as she sure if he about
so it is a talks, can handle marriage-
cause of indicating a matter they come
concern. Her she has as from broken
father was moved on delicate families,
separated from with as this where
her mother another and parental
long ago and the ring id attention
worked abroad. a gift. and
She also tells supervision
him very are scant.
subtly that
she had had a
little liaison
with a male
friend. She
then tells him
that he is
very
influential on
her and asks
him to advise
her.
The next scene 1) Pleasant Thackeray Thackeray In the book,
Thackeray flute is happy represents the difference
opens two musical that is the between
envelopes to version of hopes paid coloured opportunities
see the To sir with off. He section available to
contents. One love expects that has to Gillian and
is a indicates Gillian to fight Thackeray are
rejection, his share the nepotism at made stark when
which shows up happiness same. He jobs and he goes to the
as a pleasant 2) a whole does not struggles Poisson d’Or,
feeling of panoramic notice for a and he is
joy. He walks view of the that she living. treated as next
in the marketplace has got Gillian is to a slave by a
marketplace which seems used to among the waiter who has
happily, more their privileged much lesser
swinging his pleasant to cadence. masses qualifications.
briefcase in him after He goes to her
the air and he gets the parents and
catching it, job realizes that
hopping and 3) A still they are just
skipping of like her, well
around. He Gillian’s educated, and
shares this mixed proud of their
news with emotions, privileges.
Gillian who is where she
not that wants to
happy. fell happy
but she is
not able
to.
Thackeray Pamela as In the book,
calls out to a young Braithwaite
Pamela and developing goes to
asks her what adult is Pamela’s house
the matter is. right at and talks, and
She says that her part it is told
she lived a because little
normal life she is too explicitly.
with her young to Pamela is shown
mother until see her mutely obeying
male friends mother to him.
started have an
calling on affair.
her. She felt She feels
her mother it is
hated her as abhorrent.
she was a But she
roadblock in does not
her liaisons understand
with her male what point
friend, so she of view
spent time at her sir is
her gran talking
mother’s. When from. And
Thackeray Thackeray
tells her to feels bad
forgive her that
mother and Pamela
tells her to misdirects
solve her her anger
family towards
problems by taking
other means, flowers at
not by staying Seals’
out. Pamela place
feels he can’t which has
understand her nothing to
and refuses to do with
take the her anger
flowers to for him.
Seals house.
As per The boxing This scene Denham is also
Florian’s scene is shows puzzled as to
instructions, shown as Thackeray’ why he didn’t
Thackeray back to s strength punch him
handles P.T back cuts of again. that
for the boys. of Denham character. scene won the
Denham and He could whole class
suggests they Thackeray have over and
should box. He cut to a punched brought the
then says fast Denham and movie to a
Sapiano has rhythm, wounded complete
hurt his arm, with cut him which circle.
so he asks sir shots of he didn’t.
to have a go the boys
with him. His cheering.
sir warns him
not to mess
around with a
smug,
unpleasant
smile and yet
they end up
boxing, as
Denham drops
the gloves in
front of him.
Thackeray
realizes that
he is an ace
boxer with
talent and
experience of
street
fighting. He
is punched in
the face quite
a few times
when he
manages to
awkwardly
corner Denham
and punch him
in the belly.
He helps
Denham feel
better and by
making him
bend low and
asks his
friends to
take him to
the infirmary.
Denham asks Denham Thackeray Before he
Thackeray why realizes hits two leaves
he didn’t that birds with Thackeray asks
punch him even Thackeray a stone: he Denham what a
when he could. is simple, employs barrow is in
Thackeray says sorted and Denham in reference to
it wouldn’t straight an activity the barrow that
solve much. forward in his talent he mentioned.
While Denham his lied in, He wanted to
admits he approach. that would make Denham
wanted to hurt Thackeray also teach understand that
Thackeray, for his self- life is not
Thackeray part sees defense to about doing
offers him a skill in the young business on a
job-with an act youth in fruit barrow.
payment-to that was his area. It is much more
teach boxing meant to than that; it
for the local deliberate is life-skills
boys in his ly hurt. and
area as self- When a responsibility
defense is person to shoulder. He
just as rises also wanted him
important. He above to understand
leaves asking another by that a
Denham what a his situation is
barrow is. He conduct about
pursues the alone, perspective.
conversation the other One person may
saying that person be right at a
potter was loses face time, according
right in being value like to someone,
angry. Denham which may
Thackeray says did. He change value
at his age, was also with time,
from his point trying to place, people
of view he was cover up etc.
right. Denham for his
then says the deeds by
girls were saying
right about that
gossip, and Thackeray
Thackeray says was wrong
yes, from on some
their point. occasions.
He asks if
there is any
other point to
the Seals
issue. He is
left to figure
that out for
himself.
The students The scene The class The class,
tell him that is shot as and including
they realise a low angle Thackeray Denham turns
their mistakes pan, slow have a out very well
and Denham and serene presented.
says taking deliberate, moment of
their own as if the union and
decisions students harmony as
seems like a are being they
wise thing to assessed understand
do. He invites and each
him for the scrutinised other.
passing out .it cuts to
party. They a prolonged
surprise shot of a
Thackeray the satisfied
next day by look
gathering as a crosses his
class with the face, as he
flowers and is happy
the wreathe, the class
very elegantly loves him.
dressed.
Pamela meets Close up Pamela This scene
her sir shots of still has brings a bit of
looking very Thackeray those psychological
pretty and Pamela emotions analysis: The
Thackeray as Pamela for her tendency of
can’t help but endearingly sir, but having
remark how asks him if she knows excessive
pretty she he’d call she has to emotions
looks. She her Pamela, keep them towards a male
asks him if he and under personality and
can dance with Thackeray’s restraint, seeing that
her and call pleasant but person as a
her Pamela look, as he doesn’t hero. It is the
only for that looks at know how tendency to get
day. her as a to be infatuated to a
child. subtle role model,
about it. that today in
Her sir fetishism,
does not people find
take them older people
seriously appealing.
because to
him she is
just a
student
The scene has 1) mise-en- 1) The 1) Clinty knows
many enjoyable scene: use Thackeray students that the change
elements. of puts the have is wound about
i) Apart from lighting, feeling of finally entirely by
the students, jazz music ambition entered the Thackeray and
even Weston is playing an in the upper realm she asks him to
dressed instrument students- of society, do the same
sharply with version of Tich plan as they magic on her
his hair in “Stealing a life learn the and bring her
place, much to my Love ahead; by skills back to her
the surprise from Me”, saying he needed for “sweet
of Clinty and by Lulu and would join the sixteen’s” on
Thackeray. He the night society, the dance
finds himself Mindbenders school. and are floor.
forced to and cutaway 2) He capable 2) Weston ends
address shots of reconsider enough to up admitting
Barbara as foot s his teach that he is in
Miss Pegg, and tapping and decision etiquette awe of the
is in awe of fun filled to take to their students, and
the salad she dancing in the job he teachers. Thackeray. He
made. groups to so badly They ends up
2) Tich has indicate wanted as conduct refining his
got a job in the dance he hears themselves coarse self in
the Hilton and floor Clinty’s very the process.
says, “he spirit. words and gracefully
doesn’t want 2) looks at from the
to stop with Appropriate Gillian beginning
being just a match cuts- whose and there
pageboy”. He Clinty company he is
asks Thackeray telling him likes. tremendous
to help him to continue change.
with night teaching is
school. matched by
3) Gillian is Gillian who
seen jiving he likes.
with Denham, 3) The
without much perspective
of the teacher shot of
student Gillian and
formality. Thackeray
Both of them in a frame
are well as Pamela
dressed and walks
well turned brings out
out that
4)The school ironical
has arranged a and
band akin to uncomfortab
the Beatles le feeling
5) Weston is that
actually sad Gillian and
about him Pamela may
leaving and have for
thinks it’s a each other
pity. He feels
he’s done good
show as a
teacher.
According to
him it’s not
easy to manage
them.
6) When Clinty
tells him to
reconsider
teaching, he
casts a glance
at Gillian,
and is in a
mental dilemma
about
accepting the
offer.
7) By ladies’
choice Barbara
announces a
slow paced
waltz opening
Off and
Running by the
Mindbenders
that turns
into a faced
paced “It’s
Getting Harder
all the Time”
by the
Mindbenders.
And admittedly
Thackeray
dances well.
Pamela asks In the end Although
him if she can the camera each of
meet him next pauses at them never
term, he says each reciprocat
he will not be person’s ed the
continuing. face-Pamela other’s
She says they and totally
were lucky to Thackeray, different
have him. He long enough feeling
says that the to display towards
world is open the the other,
for her; she poignant there is
is a feeling of this
“smasher”. separation moving
between feeling in
them them that
they are
seeing
each other
for the
last time.

The band plays When the Thackeray This movie The Merit of
To sir, With students realizes depicts how teaching is a
love Sung by ask for a this job he is double-edged
Barbara speech earned him accepted sword. If one
(credited as there are all the despite his teaches the
Lulu and the cutaways to love and color. It student like an
Mindbenders). Evans and affection goes on to efficient
The song ends Florian, in of a prove that leader, keeping
with all of addition to lifetime, color is in mind the
them teary Clinty and more than skin deep. quality of
eyed, just as Gillian, any other It also having a firm
Thackeray is. indicating job could. proves that hand, and yet
Even as they all eyes teaching is being a gentle
ask him for a are on him. a friend-The
speech, he meritorious teacher can be
stammers and and a loved one
manages to say thankful like Thackeray.
that he would job. Otherwise he is
better leave, a regular run
very deeply in the mill
touched. staff.
The next day The movie Thackeray Thackeray He tears the
as he is ends on a is totally realizes movie and
watching the still of convinced that the stands up in
gifts given, a the torn of the conditions triumph-that he
bunch of rowdy letters, worth of this job is has conquered
boys come in each piece this job, analogous his inner
and mock at hi of paper in as the to racism conflict. In
that they will each hand sees the in the the book this
be his teacher indicating love and U.S.A, it cycle of
for the next that he has reminisces can be another batch
term. In an chosen this the mended is not
impulse, job as his memories early on, mentioned, he
Thackeray reality. in the whereas the emotionally
tears his job gift. engineering takes his gifts
offers job is very and leaves.
hard-
pressed on
racism, and
has kept
him
unemployed
for years
ANNEXURE C
Plagiarism Report