‘Oh captain! My Captain!’
Whenever I tell people that I teach both English and Film Studies, they nod sagely and respond that I must love Dead Poet’s Society. Dear reader, I have a startling confession. Until this very morn, I had only seen a handful of scenes from Peter Weir’s masterpiece spread across many years. This is partly because, like these things do from time to time, it has just passed me by, but partly because it’s become almost a cliché for an English teacher to evoke Dead Poet’s Society and John Keating. Well, as ever, I was very wrong to ignore this wonderful film for so long. It’s as good as they say it is…
Welton Academy is a proud school. A school of tradition and discipline. A school that has no interest in individuality or liberty, but rather in conformity and grades. Enter John Keating (Robin Williams). Keating teaches his students about poetry, but also about truth, and beauty, and seizing the day. He also inspires his most devoted students, among them the shy and timid Todd Anderson (Ethan Hawke) and the hopeless romantic Charlie Dalton (Gale Hansen), to form the eponymous Dead Poet’s Society. Ostensibly a bunch of lads in a cave reading poetry to each other. Lovely wholesome fun. Also among their number is Neil Perry (Robert Sean Leonard), an extremely capable student with an overbearing father.
Every now and again, the stars align and the cinematic universe provides a true gift. A movie in which everyone is firing on all cylinders. Dead Poet’s Society is that film. Williams provides perhaps his finest ever performance, despite not having as much screen time as you might think. His John Keating is one of cinema’s most inspirational characters and it is a credit to Williams that he provides gravitas and spark whilst still being controlled and subtle. Tom Schulman’s script is genuinely one of the finest ever committed to print, and Weir’s direction provides the perfect rendering of what is a wonderful story. The Australian filmmaker edges into nostalgia and sentimentality whilst always ensuring that the story takes centre stage. A true masterclass in restraint. Elsewhere, Williams’ young co-stars also deserve much of the credit. Hawke’s breakout performance is full of vulnerability and pathos, but it is Sean Leonard’s show-stopping turn as our tragic protagonist that really makes this movie sing.
Dead Poet’s Society is a bona fide classic that deserves to be remembered as one of the greats. It should also be essential viewing for any budding or current educators. A masterpiece.