Dead Poets Society

The first thing people think of when they think of a “movie teacher” is Robin Williams as Professor Keating. In the history of cinema, there have been relatively few films about school as good as Dead Poets Society, not least because it’s a heavily anti-school proposition. The film tells the story of a charismatic literature teacher and his students at an elite educational facility for boys who, under his influence, begin to “seize the day” and confront the established rules. Tragically, we see what happens when youthful idealism clashes with the expectations of parents and society, and a colourful bird confronts those in power. Because of this, the poignancy of Dead Poets Society is never simply cloying, and at any age, regardless of one’s life situation, Keating’s exhortation is worth heeding once again: “make your life extraordinary.”

Katarzyna Kebernik

Peter Weir was born August in 1944 in Sydney, Australia, studied art and law at the University of Sydney. After leaving university he joined Sydney television. During this period he made his first two experimental short films and several documentaries. Weir’s first full-length feature film was the underground cult classic, The Cars that Ate Paris (1974). This paved the way for considerable success in Australia and internationally with the atmospheric Picnic at Hanging Rock (1975). After realisation of several acclaimed pictures in Australia he started a career in Hollywood. He made more accessible movies like Witness, The Mosquito Coast, Dead Poets Society, Green Card, Fearless, The Truman Show and Master and Commander.

MFF Nowe Horyzonty 7. edition catalogue