Dead Poets Society (1989)
Dead Poets Society instantly reminds me of Scent of a Woman. The two films are very different, of course, but they both touch upon some common ground: the adolescent struggle against authority and conformity, seeking one’s true self during coming-of-age, and of course an adult character that is wise and unorthodox. However, whereas in Scent of a Woman, Al Pacino’s blind colonel takes center stage, in Dead Poets Society it is the adolescents who are the real stars.
The film’s plot, is about an underground society (same as the title) at a prestigious boys-only prep school. The central characters are 7 boys, who form the Dead Poets Society under the encouragement of their new English teacher Mr. Keating (Robin Williams). The society meets secretly at night, to read poems and share their own original works. Mr. Keating’s lesson for the boys are simple: love poetry, and carpe diem (seize the day). He encourages them to find their true passion, to think for themselves, and to live their lives the way they want to.
Of course, this kind of teaching is considered as heresy by the parents and the rest of the administration. As the dean frankly puts it, their job is to put the boys into college (Ivy League, of course) and let the rest take care of themselves. And one parent cannot accept that his son wants to do acting, instead of going to Harvard and becoming a doctor.
Tragedy eventually occurs. The son, after finishing his first performance in a play, is dragged home by the angry father. He is afraid to confront his father and tell him how he really feels, and instead chooses to end his own life.
While the story and its theme are not exactly very original, Dead Poets Society does feature some very memorable characters. The acting by a ensemble cast of young actors more than exceeds the mark. Most of the 7 actors are able to build up their characters, and a few are especially notable — Robert Sean Leonard as the aforementioned son, Ethan Hawke as his shy and introvert roommate. Robin Williams is also on par with his performance as the inspirational teacher.
For most of its length, Dead Poets Society is true and sincere, and captures the spirit of adolescence. As a person who has only not too long ago moved out of his adolescence, I can still resonate with the characters, and understand the choices and difficulties they are facing. I can still remember once upon a time I too wanted to pursue an exciting career, only to be deterred by my parents into conformity. I don’t blame my parents; they are only trying to help. But I do understand that feeling of not being understood, and that’s one of the core themes of the film.
However, the film ends on an awkward note, which is meant to be heart-lifting but feels too corny and therefore disappointing. The plot is perhaps to blame, since it is too problematic to overcome this issue — the suicide was too heavy a topic to begin with, and to be honest, I felt it didn’t exactly fit in anyway.
8/10