Ö÷²¥´óÐã

The one that springs to mind is Vigo's Zéro de conduite.

...

Rushmore and The 400 Blows, also. I can't relate to any of the three, but those are perhaps the best school films that I've seen.

The Harry Potter series is ultimatly a school film is it not?

And it has actual child actors in it which is a rare thing!

That film about two girls coming out in a small Swedish high school, Show Me Love. (It was called something stronger elsewhere in Europe). It got a lot of publicity because of the lesbian theme, but at heart it is a beautifully acted and observed study of teenagers, school life and small towns.

If you want a good "school" film then I'd absolutely recommend The Class.

Cant believe kermode did not mention IF, the greatest 'school film' ever.

And if it's OTT singing and dancing schools then GREASE is the finest.

Kes surely deserves a mention, along with Terence Davies’ films children and long day closes. Heathers and election are also wonderful. Breakfast club is probably the best high school movie I’ve ever seen, though the best depiction of schools on screen is season 4 of the wire.

Donnie Darko? Heathers? If...? Some Kind Of Wonderful? (the best John Hughes movie by far)

My favourite "school" film is Back to the Future. Although it has the high concept idea of time travel, the film is essentially about taking on the school bully.
My other favourite is "Ferris Bueller's Day Off". A film that encourages everyone who sees it to play hookie once in a while. Although the action rarely takes place in the school, I think it is still a "school" film and a great one at that.

it's a shame fast times at ridgemont high wasn't mentioned. i love love love that film.

Dazed and Confused! The best by far. Well.. for me anyway.

KristianAtkinson and renoirbergman - 'If' and 'Kes' were mentioned but didn't make the cut. Election also - I was going to mention it but someone actually beat me to it, though that also didn't make the edit.

Did I hear them say on the Culture Show that this was the last one of these? What about the Rock Biopic episode, or have I missed that one?

AAARGH! It's hard for us blokes on this side of the pond to come and visit the blog and comment when we can't watch half of your content ;)! I want to hear the good Doctor's thoughts on genre movies! Can't these go on youtube or something ')?!

Here to ask why Lindsay Anderson's If... wasn't mentioned but others have already so I'd like to also mention a few of my favourites that haven't been so far

1. The History Boys (I love almost everything Bennett has done)
2. Goodbye Mr Chips (pref for the 1939 version)
3. Le Choristes (wonderful although very much in the 'tradition')
4. The Emperor's Club (quieter and more intelligent than Dead Poet's and much the better for it)
4. Napoleon Dynamite and Ferris Bueller's Day Off (as not quite school movies but with a lot of school in them.)

(Brian Glover's PE Teacher cameo in Kes will always be burned into my brain)

pretty much what everyone else has said before(if, rushmore, donnie darko)

but i'd also like to namecheck season 4 of 'the wire' i know it's t.v. but it is rather excellent and probably my favorite season.

does 'scum' count?

Class of Nuke Em High
Class of 1984
Class of 1999

Does "Innocence" (the Lucile whotsit French movie) count?

I would have to agree that "If..." is about the best school movie.

After that, something like "Avoir et Etre" which was better than "The Class" although the
latter was one of the few school movies that wasn't a documentary that actually included
teaching scenes that lasted more than a few seconds.

"Doubt" is so much told from the teachers perspective that it almost is not a school movie
as is "Notes on a Scandal".

Another film about school not mentioned so far is "The Browning Version" and not a bad movie despite Julian Sands being in the cast.

"Fame" is about school, is it not?

Then there are the numerous comedies including the old and new "St. Trinians" series as well as
"Clockwise" starring John Cleese.

And who could forget the 1971 film version of "Please, Sir"?

... tumbleweeds ...

RIP John Hughes

All the school movies noted so far share a key feature - they are about being at school. For me Ferris Bueller's Day Off is the definitive school movie cause its about the freedom of NOT being at school.

I wonder why they didn't let Mark talk about St. Trinians...

Very interesting discussion Dr. K, but what I'd really like to see is a discussion about religious films, specifically films about the death and resurrection of Jesus. I've been a Christian all my life and have seen a wide range of portrayals, from animated greats like The Miracle Maker to Mel Gibson's Passion of the Christ.

Would be great to see you and Mayo reviewing a range of them - two possible talking points:

1. How far does one's opinion of e.g Christianity affect one's enjoyment of a film about e.g. Christ (as I understand it, Mayo is a Christian and you're a lapsed Methodist, so this would be interesting)?
2. Does the Passion story, as it is known, work best on film or on TV?

Glad to see 'If' getting mentioned as it was the best school film, 'Boys boys I understand!' as a bullet hits his forehead. Ah, the happiest days of your life, oh I seem to have just mentioned another film. I attended a secondary modern you know.

Other public school film enjoyed by me at the time worth mentioning are Absolution starring Richard Burton and one Billy Connelly. Also Unman, Wittering, and Zigo with David Hemmings which was a sort of Straw Dogs in the classroom.

An honorable mention for the film latterly known as Melody but was called SWALK when I saw it. Mark Lester and Jack Wild together again after Oliver and blowing things up.

I hope St Trinian's get a mention, after all it has recently been reborn for the Ipod generation.

Hi Dr K

Regarding 'Blackboard Jungle' (Chalkboard Jungle for the PC crowd) and 'To Sir, with love'. In both these films we see the teacher trying to teach young people who see school as a playground. In neither of these films does the teacher get down with the kids unlike 'Dangerous Minds', which I thought was a poor remake of 'Blackboard Jungle'. In fact, getting down with the students is a fatal strategy for teachers to use in the classroom. It's also important to note that the students in these films don't leave school with A grades and loads of qualifications, but they might have learned a bit about responsibility.

Both of these films are about communication and understanding between generations, and the barrier that exists between. Regardless of some of the silliness in both these films with Lulu singing and kids walking down steps on their hands, both these films are extremely good with the message that if you talk to young people like human beings - not get down with them or talk down to them - and treat young people like human beings - not judge them or treat them like animals - then the majority will behave like human beings.

RIP John Hughes.

Yeah Class of 1984 stands out, one scene in which the science teacher played by Roddy Mcdowell snaps and teaches his class at gun point. Also Battle Royale in which a teacher played by Takishi Kiatano gets his revenge on his disobediant class.

One film I must mention is 'Carry On Teacher'. In this film there is, of course, the usual humour as well as some funny observations, including the dreadful school orchestra. More importantly there's the underlying issue of "the child can do no wrong" psychology by people who have never taught vs the realities of being a teacher. Very well done.

Alexander Payne's Election (1999) is probably my favourite high school film. The teachers, the pupils, the parents, even the janitor comes off as wretched in it.

Re: HSM. I'm sorry, but there's no way Mark actually likes this. Speaking as a cynical fifty-something male in the body of a 25 year-old, I can only assume he's lauding HSM soely to be a contrary ***. Next he'll be telling us to go see Hannah Montana: Resurrection.

And re: Dazed and Confused, am I the ony person who thinks the trouble with making a movie about vacuousness is that it might turn out vacuous? (See also: Big Lebowski)

Frankly I'm struggling to think of a good school movie - Finding Nemo, perhaps?

Definitely "If" - also, any of the original St Trinians. Junkie cosmonaut raises good point on Scum.