School Life Review: A celebration of devoted teachers
☆☆☆☆
Written by: Monika Pundzaite
The observational documentary School Life was a Sundance audience favourite, it follows the lives of prep school teaching couple Amanda and John Leyden who have been teaching for 46 years. You could say that Headfort School (located in Kells, Ireland) an enchanting 18th Century Hogwarts-like boarding school has become the English couples second home and a part of their life. Even the headmaster recognizes the children’s novel that Amanda teaches her current students. The same book was taught to him as a student by Amanda many years ago.
Directed by Neasa Ni Chianain and produced by David Rane the movie is a celebration of all of the teachers that have devoted their time to teach young minds and prepare them for the world that awaits. The movie itself has a very unique point of view – the movie has plenty of behind the scene details. We follow the everyday life of students and its staff in the boarding school .
From the first moment the viewer is pulled into this school life full of warmth, coziness and love. It doesn’t take long time to realize how much all of the school staff care for the children. Being a boarding school the students come from all over and term “homesickness” is rather common in their daily lives. However staff do everything in their power to show these kids that there is no need to be afraid, scared or lonely. A lot of everyday difficulties are tackled with fun and games. However the youngsters are also treated as young adults, despite all the fun and games each of them have various responsibilities around school and dormitories. When it comes down to extra-curricular activities thoughts and suggestions from the students are taken into consideration as it is their time off to do something different.
Its very easy to follow the story, as it has a single plotline. There talking heads, no confessions, no big statement about the school or its history, the viewer is just following a normal school day. Headforts’ ethos is very much about community. Amanda and John Leyden can hardly imagine their life without teaching. chain-smoking, proud dog owners and full of wit Amanda and John try to help their students not only academically, but also socially. The husband and wife might appear as a bit of a funny duo. For John Rock is just one of the subjects like Mathematics or Physics, whereas his wife Amanda shares her love for books and reading. The couple hasn’t really consider retirement an option, who will take care of the children?
A heartwarming and droll documentary, it will bring the audience back in time to his/her school days remembering those teachers that meant something special like Amanda and John for the kids in Headfort School.
Now showing in selected theatres
