I have just watched the first 30-minutes, and I am already here. I hope it is not illegal to talk about it, even before watching it completely. Usually, if I do this thing, it means movie was bad enough to leave. But, in this scenario, movie is a masterpiece. Someone give me a better word because "masterpiece" is not enough to explain the worth of it. Maybe: a work of art beyond expression; Magnum Opus (Great Work); or transcendent?
Now one thing is already clear: English language has already failed me. Enough of "I" let us move toward the stuff, I am actually here for.
First Thirty Minutes Plot.
The story opens at Welton Academy, a prestigious, boys only, preparatory school built around four traditional principles: Tradition, Honour, Excellence and Discipline. The opening ceremony establishes the school's strict, boarding school type, atmosphere. All that matters is academic achievement, obedience and reputation. Students are meant to follow the already decided path by their parents and teachers, leaving little to no individuality. GenZ may not like it, but hey, the world is this way - just bit indirect.
Among the students, we have Neil Perry, an intelligent and charismatic young man who seems to have everything under control. However, his father has already planned his future, expecting him to pursue medicine and achieve the kind of success he considers respectable. And guess what? He replies with "okay, sir." So movie has already established the difference between living for someone else or for oneself.
Then there is Todd Anderson, Neil's shy and reserved roommate. He is new to Welton and lives under the shadow of his older brother, who unfortunately, was an outstanding student. Unfortunately for Todd, not for his brother. Because Todd is already compromised and compared.
While Neil is confident enough to speak up and interact really well with others, Todd struggles to express even the basics. That is why he is bit shy to go to the cave.
And then there is the arrival of their English teacher: John Keating. Reminds me of my Bachelor days tho, wish I had a teacher like him. He is the one with literary nature. He may not seem like a realist, but he knows the world better than them. Yes, I am biased. His speciality is: not the traditional manners. He does not treat education as a mechanical process of memorising, i.e. cramming, information and following the boring rules. He encourages his students to look at the world differently, think as themselves and understand poetry as something that connects with human experience rather than simply a subject to be analysed.
"Rip it out."
One of his very first lessons takes place outside the conventional classroom. He asks the students to look at photographs of former Welton students and reminds them that those boys, too, were once young and full of possibilities. His message:
Carpe Diem - sieze the day.
Life is temporary, and one should not waste it merely trying to satisfy others. This lesson is particularly meaningful for everyone - even us - but for the Welton's it is even more meaningful. To challenge the rigid values that Welton has spent years teaching its students.
Keating's unconventional methods, though spooky and weird for the students, continue as he encourages the boys to question established ways of thinking. He simply wants them to develop their own perspectives instead of just accepting the things as they are.
Neil gets curious, and soon the boys begin to get to know about Mr.Keating. He discovers that their teacher was once a member of a secret student society - the Dead Poets Society. On further investigation, they learn that the society was involved in a cave to read poetry, share ideas and escape the expectations imposed on them by the outside world.
Quite a contrary of Plato's cave.
What comes ahead is yet to be seen, but they are moving towards the cave. The beginning of the rebel.
The Me Part.
First important thing, I usually do not even write this big of a plot for the whole movie. And here I am explained hell of a plot. So comes the:
Hel-ton.
Students, and of course Mr. Keating, love to call Welton as Hel-ton. I guess, we all share this same thing for our schools as well. Because, for the most part, we want to do or become something else; but we are just forced to take that path. And hey, there is nothing wrong in it. The world works this way, and believe me, this is the most rational and realistic approach. You bend a little; you go astray. But that world has its own beauty. You maybe labelled as "abnormal." But what good comes from being a normal? Just the usual crap, nothing rebellious? If you are good with it, then be it. But before making the final call, think about it. Is it really ou talking? Or is there someone else - maybe parents, society - calling out the "you for you?"
"O Captain! My Captain!"
An outstanding poem written by Walt Whitman. Other than this outstanding part, this poem has a special place in my heart. The story goes back four years. Our professor gave us an assignment to memories a poem of such length. I choose this poem. Initially, it felt like I did the wrong thing. Why? Because it was a big one. And English being a third language of mine, so it is not easy to memories stuff. Memorizing for the general part is not my thing. I am more of a context gut. Still, it had a profounding impact that I still remember every bit of it. But when the day came for the test. The professor gave me "10/10" at "O Captain! My Captain." I did not ask why? Because, at that time, the marks were more important. Dumb me!
"What will be you verse?" - John Keating.
The teacher does not ask you to tell a verse from Shakespeare or the Bible, he simply asks you to give me your understanding of the world. It can be anything, and as he says human race is so full of "passion." Let your passion out, and you will learn to think "yourself again." Why again? Because we came as free men, but the world starts to mix it up. And we become a by-product, a mixture.
Travesty, Horror, Decadence, Excrement.
The four pillars for the teenagers - members of the future Dead Poets Society. Being honest, I do not know the meaning of three words other than horror. So I am just skipping it for the time being, and will deal with it in the next part. I will dive deep for this one. And surely, Carpe Diem - sieze the day, demands its own piece.
What are the Dead Poets?
Continued...
Ratings as of now:
| Platform | Rating |
|---|---|
| IMDb | 8.1/10 |
| Rotten Tomatoes | 85% |
| Personal Rating | 95/100 |
Peace 🕊️
Will bore you guys in the next part :)
Rating: 95/100
