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Best Films about or related to (primary) school

andrew kay

over 3 years ago

Splendor In The Grass (1961)
Class of 1984 (1982)
P’Tang Yang Kipperbang (1982)
The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie (1969)
The Last Picture Show (1971)
Carrie (1976)
Rebel Without a Cause (1955)
Fast Times At Ridgemont High (1982)
Seven Plus Seven (1970)

andrew kay

over 3 years ago

Splendor In The Grass (1961)
Class of 1984 (1982)
P’Tang Yang Kipperbang (1982)
The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie (1969)
The Last Picture Show (1971)
Carrie (1976)
Rebel Without a Cause (1955)
Fast Times At Ridgemont High (1982)
Seven Plus Seven (1970)

andrew kay

over 3 years ago

P’Tang Yang Kipperbang (1982)
Seven Plus Seven (1970)

Gordon Ackerma​n

over 3 years ago

Ignatio Perez (real name) as “Ignatio” at the Catholic boarding school in Bad Education was, I feel, very well-directed. As was his pal, whose name escapes me.

Gordon Ackerma​n

over 3 years ago

Was Ferris Buhler’s Day Off (or however it’s spelled) any good? Can’t remember.

Gordon Ackerma​n

over 3 years ago

Ignatio Perez (real name ) as “Ignatio” at the Catholic boarding school in Bad Education was, I think, well-directed. As was his classmate.

I believe this film won the Palme d’Or at Cannes, the year it was released – not sure. A French reviewer wrote of Ignatio, “This person is not an actor and not a singer. He’s a dancer who sings and acts extraordinaily well.”

What about “Ferris Buhler’s Day Off” (or however his name is spelled)? Saw it so long ago I’ve forgotten whether it was any good.

Cheers

Gordon Ackerma​n

over 3 years ago

It wasn’t primary school, but I was quite moved and touched by Tori’s and Paulie’s remarkable performances as tragic, gay lovers at the all-gal boarding school in Lost & Delerious. Am I alone?

Tyler

over 3 years ago

I really enjoyed the French documentary ‘To Be and To Have’ that came out maybe five years ago or so. A very genuine, unassuming, and sweet little film that stands as a great defense of teaching.

Rich Uncle Skeleton

over 3 years ago

@Gordon

I can think of at least two American films, though there are certainly many more:

Noah Baumbach’s THE SQUID AND THE WHALE

and

Morris Engel’s THE LITTLE FUGITIVE

E.T. is also a very good film about children.

It seems silly to say that American films are incapable of producing realistic depictions of children.

Dazza

over 3 years ago

Mentioned a couple of times already, But I’d go with Truffaut’s Pocket Money for its depiction of both children and adults. A real gem brimming with warmth, generosity and humanity.

Tobin.

over 3 years ago

Rushmore!!!

Wait is primary school everything before college, or just elementary school? Help.

Maicol Andrés Ordoñez

over 3 years ago

I thought Julie Gavras’ BLAME IT ON FIDEL! is a VERY unique look at elementary school life through the eyes of a little girl who’s parents leave their bourgeoisie lives and go communist all over the place.

Check it out!

Gordon Ackerma​n

over 3 years ago

Oh, yes, Rich Uncle – The Little Fugitive, indeed. First saw it at the long-gone Exeter Cinema down at the end of Newbury St. in Boston, roughly 1952. Morris’ wife was Ruth Orkin, I believe. Loved it. I thought E.T. was utter garbage. Walked out.

Dazza

over 3 years ago

@ Mao: of course, I totally forgot about this one! Fantastic film, with great performances (I think Julie Depardieu is always excellent and really interesting to watch). Saw this at a press show a couple of years or so back, and it was on TV5 (French TV station) last week. I should get the DVD at some point, but thanks for reminding me of one of the most satisfying films in recent years.

Gordon Ackerma​n

over 3 years ago

Rich Uncle – You are better-skilled at film commentary than sexual psycho-pathology. Lonsdale’s character in "Murmurs of the "Heart was a pederast, not a pedophile. The pederast target area, chronologically, is 14-18 (Lonsdale’s heart-throb was Laurent, 14, if I recall.) For pedophiles, it’s pre-pubescent and pubescent – 13 and down. Father Monalo (sp?) in Bad Education was a pedophile, and he most assuredly wasn’t “least subtle.” Either way, Rich Uncle, don’t get in cars with strangers. I like your observations, here at Les Auteurs. Good Wishes!.

Justin Biberkopf

over 3 years ago

I agree with Adam. Welcome to the Dollhouse is pretty cool.

Rich Uncle Skeleton

over 3 years ago

Let the record show that Gordon knows A LOT about child molesting.

thanks for the clarification.

Gordon Ackerma​n

over 3 years ago

You’re clairvoyant, Rich Uncle – I was about to ask you to buy me a trench coat.

In London 6 years ago, a major publisher asked me to do a non-fiction book on pedophilia – this following three horrendous, pedophilic crimes in the UK. I’m a journalist, and reported the crimes for a magazine. (Sarah Paine in Surrey, Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman in Cambridgeshire – can’t remember the third.) The details you don’t want.

The working title was: “Travels in Pedophilia – A Journalist Looks at Pedophiles in the 21st Century.”

I got into the research but I had to abandon it for economic reasons, despite a sizable advance, and I was glad I had to abandon it. It’s a very depressing topic, as you may guess – not revolting, just depressing. I have a son and daughter, so I have the predictable, if conventional, response to pedophilia.

I interviewed several pedophiles and, I must say, they opened up to me. Sad people. That was my overwhelming impression – sadness.

Pedophiles and pederasts have their favorite films, as you might guess – just about anything with a cute girl or boy in it.

J***s, I talk an awful lot for an old man, don’t I? EA, maybe (Early Alzheimer’s.)

Remember what I told you about getting into cars with strangers. I didn’t like Mystic River 1 and I doubt I’d like Mystic River 2, starring Rich Uncle.

My coat size is 42 long. Navy blue, ideally, or beige. With a belt I can open and close fast.

Cheers

PS – Don’t forgot Hollywood’s two unspoken laws. One – never make a film of the American Revolution in which Americans and Brits are shown killing one another. And (two) never make a film that displays explicit pedophilic or pederastic conduct. In truth, the first law has been broken at least a couple of times, notably (I believe) in Northwest Passage (1942), and in PBS’s “Washington.” Northwest Passage was the second film I ever saw (you asked, didn’t you?)

Jenny Harmon

over 3 years ago

Elephant – Gus Van Sant
Vagabond – Agnes Varda
Days of Heaven – Terrence Malick
Badlands – Terrence Malick
Walkabout – Nicholas Roeg

I think there are at least a couple “American films” in there. Of course, these type of threads are meant to showcase personal opinion which can be difficult to quantify, in my “humble judgement.”

Rich Uncle Skeleton

over 3 years ago

NORTHWEST PASSAGE rocks.

I’ll have to go back and look, but didn’t they shoot some brits in DRUMS ALONG THE MOHAWK? I’m not sure if that counts though. Since it CLEARLY takes place in Utah, I doubt it can be about the revolution.

Rich Uncle Skeleton

over 3 years ago

oh, also, per the topic:

Lina Wertmueller’s CIAO, PROFESSORE!

Gordon Ackerma​n

over 3 years ago

You’re smarter than me – I meant Drums Along the Mohawk, not Northwest Passage.

Ms. Wertmueller I know nothing of. Please fill me in.

filmsyn​cs

over 3 years ago

I can’t believe this thread has gone two pages without anyone mentioning TO SIR WITH LOVE

Gordon Ackerma​n

over 3 years ago

Does anyone out there recall a film entitled The Little Kidnappers? Possibly British. Thank you.

James Cathcar​t

over 3 years ago

I wasn’t going to mention this since it’s a documentary, but since someone else already mentioned the fantastic “High School”, I’ll say that another – almost equally great – documentary about the educational setting is the French doc “To Be and To Have” from 2002.

JEFFY

over 3 years ago

For me its easily Kes (Dir. Ken Loach 1969)

If none of you have seen this I would say its imperative!

uzak

over 3 years ago

Spirit of the beehive

laura de noves

about 3 years ago

“ciao, professore!” really is awfully sweet.

Jose Sarmien​to Hinojos​a

about 3 years ago

Entre Les Murs…. well Innocence doesn’t quite get there but is a terrific movie as well.

Kim Packard

about 3 years ago

13 children from age 4-12 in a one-room classroom in France:

To Be and To Have; Etre et avoir (2002) … a documentary by Nicolas Philibert
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-OhQtVXNW5Y&feature=related

The Chorus; Les choristes (2004) by Christophe Barratier

Older kids:

To Sir, with Love (1967) by James Clavell
Stand and Deliver (1988) by Ramon Menendez
Chalk (2006) by Mike Akel … is a documentary about teachers and teaching but it has scenes of classrooms with students