Absolutely engrossing! Not better than the play, but a huge film. Maybe a thousand others have explained the plot, the thoughts behind each and every character and the really witty resources used to make this film unforgettable.
Above all, a view into education and societal taboos that unleashes each character's creativity through language... and history. Almost no important issue is left out of the classroom. Teachers and students alike have their word and show their personalities as openly as imaginable. Something usually impossible in a classroom, except when students are pushed to think and speak out their minds.
I've seen this happen many times and I'd love to see it happen every time a teacher meets the class. If education would ever turn out to be what it's meant for, this is the way it should be done. This world would be different, much better, indeed.
The one thing I'd change (pretty difficult to do, anyway) is the age of the actors. They're all above their mid-twenties, so a lot of the power of the transitional age that is depicted on this film does not permeate as strongly as it would if the actors were the age they're representing. Especially when you see all the kids surrounding them so "in their age"... it looks a bit over the top because it actually is. But, anyway, the film wouldn't be possible with younger actors because of many legal restrictions. I still can't believe it was rated R in the US. What a shame!
Above all, a view into education and societal taboos that unleashes each character's creativity through language... and history. Almost no important issue is left out of the classroom. Teachers and students alike have their word and show their personalities as openly as imaginable. Something usually impossible in a classroom, except when students are pushed to think and speak out their minds.
I've seen this happen many times and I'd love to see it happen every time a teacher meets the class. If education would ever turn out to be what it's meant for, this is the way it should be done. This world would be different, much better, indeed.
The one thing I'd change (pretty difficult to do, anyway) is the age of the actors. They're all above their mid-twenties, so a lot of the power of the transitional age that is depicted on this film does not permeate as strongly as it would if the actors were the age they're representing. Especially when you see all the kids surrounding them so "in their age"... it looks a bit over the top because it actually is. But, anyway, the film wouldn't be possible with younger actors because of many legal restrictions. I still can't believe it was rated R in the US. What a shame!