Don't Know Much About History

Young teacher, the subject
Of schoolgirl fantasy
She wants him so badly
Knows what she wants to be

If I had to compare History Boys to another film, it would be British Dead Poet's Society.

Of course, there are more differences than simply which side of the pond the action takes place.

Dead Poet's Society takes place in a prep school sometime during the 60s. Many films that are set in the recent time often view it with the lens of modern time. DPS was filmed in the 80s, so Robin Williams, playing unorthordox teacher, John Keating, coaches the kids to play soccer, much, of course, before the sport became so ubiquitous that its the sport moms are most associated with.

Roger Ebert criticized the film's portrayal of adults outside of Robin Williams. Ever since That 70s Show, it's now difficult to take Kurtwood Smith seriously as the stern father of thespian-wannabe Neil Perry (Robert Sean Leonard).

DPS mostly chronicles John Keating's desire to inspire curiousity and creativity through an appreciation of literature, the better, he claims, to woo women. A friend commented that the film had too little Williams, and indeed, Williams, while a central character, isn't exactly the focus of the film. Rather his ideas are the focus.

Indeed, the film gives some sketchy background about his past. Educated at the private school he's taught at, we know little about John Keating except he, like the kids he'll inspire, likes to read poetry. The film's appeal, at least for a teen (which I was at the time), is the inspiration of learning, and the rebellion against adults who just don't get it.

The problem with most films set in schools is that it's rarely about education. Even insipid shows like Saved By The Bell barely have a teacher in sight (seen in early seasons, teachers disappear in later ones), and education is a mere afterthought. While it could be seen as some clever satire of modern education, I'm perfectly happy qualifying the series as stupid.

The History Boys was, apparently, a very successful play, and there's a certain staginess about the acting, but it seems to work anyway, at least, in a broadly entertaining sort of way.

While set in the early 80s, there's nothing particularly 80s about the film. Filmed recently, it takes PC notions to the 80s classroom, thus one black (African English?), one Muslim Indian, a Jew, a fat kid, a religious Catholic, well, you get the idea. PC happiness galore.

Unlike DPS, THB has two teachers that form the center of the story. On the one hand, there's Hector, who teaches love of education, though many means, often having students try to stump him by acting out scenes from old films, or sing songs that would normally be on Broadway (London, there, I suppose). He's also a little lecherous, offering students rides on his motorbike while his hands occasionally wander.

Despite what sounds like a rather heavy scenario, the kids are all remarkably immune to his advances, and don't even begrudge his actions. They put up with it with rather calm resolve, and otherwise seem to enjoy his teaching.

The headmaster, fussy and upwardly mobile, doesn't like this rambling form of teaching. He looks to a new teacher, Irwin, to teach them how to write essays that will wow Oxbridge. Looking much like a more diffident, blonder Stephen Colbert, Irwin says the key to entering these grand institutions is to come up with an odd angle, keep the essays interesting. His approach is pragmatic.

Very much unlike DPS is the story of these teachers weaknesses. Surrounded by young lads, there's temptation to possibly do something, and this reflects something that apparently happens quite often in schools, although typically male teachers being surrounded by underaged girls as sources of temptation.

The film is fairly even-handed, perhaps even forgiving. Hector clearly loves teaching, and quoting this or that, but he knows he's a large man, and though his character is married (his wife is never shown), he knows he'll never get quite what he wants, although what he wants isn't so clear. The film is savvy enough to realize that he imagines what he's doing is somehow "benediction", though this is clearly rebuffed by the no nonsense Mrs. Lintott, whose stern expression seems so very typical of many a school marm.

Indeed, what I liked about THB was its casting choices. None of the teachers are particularly handsome. Indeed, they're pretty far from it. There's no Ryan Gosling in Half Nelson here.

Much like DPS focuses on Neil Perry and Todd Anderson (played by Ethan Hawke), THB focuses on Posner (Samuel Barnett) and Dakin (Dominic Cooper).

Dakin's the lady's man in the film, which nevertheless is extremely male. Posner, gay, Jewish, and presumably from some working class town in Britain, longs for Dakin, often bursting in song. Dakin, on the other hand, wants to impress the new teacher, Irwin, and while he affirms himself as straight, wants to get it on with the teacher.

Which leads me to the song above. While Dakin's actions are a bit flamboyant, perhaps more than one would expect from any student, it creates doubt in Irwin. Dakin's a little too smart, as he points out the reason Irwin won't have a fling with him is because he doesn't want to be like Hector, the portly queen of a teacher.

If the film succeeds, it's because it's great at innuendo. A knowing glance, using history as metaphor for having sex. Indeed, it's almost too brainy for a film. The kids know a ton, and quote it frequently. Hard to imagine it could be a film made in the US.

Indeed, one section is spoken with unsubtitled French. My rusty French allowed me to figure out that the students were pretending they were in a brothel. One of the students has his pants down in the play acting, at which point, the headmaster, introducing the new teacher comes in. Hector is asking which tense things should be in, and asks if it should be in the subjunctive. How many movies do you know that even use the word "subjunctive"?

It feels very much as if the film is written by someone gay. There is a near fantasy element that advances by teachers are ignored by students (commented on, but nothing worse), or that the hot straight male student is willing to make advances on the closeted teacher. There's also plenty of play acting, singing, and female impersonations.

THB does struggle finding a way to end the film, though it takes a clever idea on what happens to each character (somewhat like Broken Glass), but they way it is so boldy brainy, almost to the point where you can't believe these are real students, tackles topics, such as teacher-student relations and whether this struggle to make it to Oxbridge is totally silly (small subplot with athlete Rudge), and just that it's slyly funny, made it a lot of fun to watch, and deeper, in many respects than the shallower DPS, which is another film I also enjoyed.

I'd say A- for enjoyment, and B+ for being a good film.