The History Boys
Oct. 27th, 2006 10:17 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
aleathielI went to see the film The History Boys last night and really enjoyed it. I thought it was intelligent and thought provoking as well as entertaining. I have to admit that it made me really glad that I didn't have to do a whole extra term with my Cambridge application, but I thought the issues of the different ways of addressing teaching, and the purpose of exams in education was beautifully done and very recognisibly things I've experienced.
And of course, I loved seeing my college on the big screen (for anyone who wants to know: the sundial and the ornate window in the montage and then the court with the cloister and the half timbered building that the boys walked through were all things I walked past/through many times a day).
Has anyone else seen the film and do you have any thoughts on it? I have two friends who saw the play and while they liked the film they didn't think it was as good as the play. Certainly I thought the film felt like a play being filmed (not that it didn't work, but it was very static and there were clear scenes). What did you think?
EDIT: I didn't mean to ignore the issues of sexuality and pederasty that arise in the film. Obviously without them it would have been a different, and less interesting, film.
And of course, I loved seeing my college on the big screen (for anyone who wants to know: the sundial and the ornate window in the montage and then the court with the cloister and the half timbered building that the boys walked through were all things I walked past/through many times a day).
Has anyone else seen the film and do you have any thoughts on it? I have two friends who saw the play and while they liked the film they didn't think it was as good as the play. Certainly I thought the film felt like a play being filmed (not that it didn't work, but it was very static and there were clear scenes). What did you think?
EDIT: I didn't mean to ignore the issues of sexuality and pederasty that arise in the film. Obviously without them it would have been a different, and less interesting, film.
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Date: 2006-10-29 08:30 am (UTC)Angie, curious
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Date: 2006-10-29 10:20 am (UTC)It's a play written by Alan Bennett that was a huge success in London and then again on Broadway. It's just been made into a film with the same cast.
The trailer, while amusing, makes it look a lot 'sillier' than it is. It is very much a comedy, but it's also very intelligent. It's the story of 8 boys in the 1980s who got such good exam results that their headmaster wants to put them in for the Oxbridge entrance exam. At the time (not any more) that mean one extra term of studying - which is what the film follows. The headmaster hires a new hot-shot Oxford graduate called Irwin to give the boys some 'flair' and the film looks at the difference between his teaching style in coaching them for the exams and in the style of their favourite teacher, Hector, who teaches them to believe in learning for learning's sake. It also explores the boys growing up - one of them is in love with another of them, and everyone knows. And it has a more contraversial side in that Hector likes to touch the boys when he gives them a lift home on his motercyle. And Irwin is also not entirely honest about his feelings for one of the boys.
I don't know that I've managed to sell that at all, but it's both very intelligent and thought provoking and very funny. I thought it was great. I don't know whether it's out in other countries, or whether it would resonate at all because the whole Oxbridge thing is quite British, but I suppose that boys everywhere face exams and the contrast between learning and passing exams is probably true everywhere.
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Date: 2006-10-29 10:42 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-10-29 11:52 am (UTC)Angie
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Date: 2006-10-29 11:53 am (UTC)Did you see my college? So purty!
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Date: 2006-10-29 12:02 pm (UTC)Angie
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Date: 2006-10-29 12:48 pm (UTC)And I adore your icon. I love that scene. It is indeed ridiculously romantic. And then Brian crying at the hospital and wearing the scarf under his clothes...
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Date: 2006-10-29 12:57 pm (UTC)But yeah, even that early in the series, in that last ep if Season 1, it was obvious what was going on in his head and in his heart about Justin. [cuddles Brian] Nothing else could make him show it like that.
Although it was obvious something weird was going on in... I think it was the second episode, the one after the two hour pilot, when Justin went into Babylon and sucked those two guys off of Brian, and then Brian went over and peeled them away, with his arms on either side of Justin, not touching yet but staking out his territory? It was like he hung up a big neon sign over the kid's head that said MINE! Hehehe! I loved that ep. :D
Angie
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Date: 2006-10-29 01:01 pm (UTC)It's really hard to get hold of over here. Obviously there's the British version which is grittier and more serious, but the USA one isn't out on region 2 DVD. I have a few that a friend kindly sent me, so I've seen most of seasons one and two, but that's it.
And yes, Brian is great. Completely stubborn and unwilling to see what's in front of him. That's why his turning up at the prom is so touching. And yeah, exactly with Michael, he doesn't explain his meaning and he's horrible, but he's hurting himself to push Michael away.
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Date: 2006-10-29 01:10 pm (UTC)I loved that episode. I was ready to take a two-by-four to Brian, and then Debbie came in after the party and just nailed him. Go, Debbie! You know you've got an interesting character when you practically have to nail his feet to the floor, accuse him of doing a good deed, then ambush him with a thank you. [bemused smile] God forbid anyone realize he's actually trying to help someone out. :P
Angie
PS -- last animated icon. :) I only got the three, although there were a bunch of them on Queer Eyes.