Movie Review: Dead Poets Society- “Redefining Emotional Turmoil”

Have you ever pondered whether a piece of recreational media carries the potential to devastate you formidably? The answer is a big “yes”. Among the myriad of masterpieces “Dead Poets Society” quintessentially embraces its role. The movie is a vicissitude of sentiments that compels one to venture on a journey along with all the interesting characters. The movie is a true representation of dark academia. 

Introduction

Name of the movie: Dead Poets Society

Director’s name: Peter Weir

Genre: Teen comedy-drama

Based on: Dead Poets Society (written by Nancy H. Kleinbaum)

Language: English

Synopsis (No spoiler alert)

The usual commotion ensuing on the first day of the reopening of an educational institution makes for the opening scene of this masterpiece. But the institution is not an ordinary one. It is Welton Academy, an all-male elite prep school situated in a cosy corner of Vermont. And Welton Academy is seriously committed to producing serious erudite with four pillars of “Tradition, Honour, Discipline, Excellence”.

The story starts on a very light note with Todd Anderson, a shy and reticent boy, who enrols into the academy on quite forceful insistence from his father. He is assigned to Neil Perry, the idealistic student at the academy. The other essential characters are Charlie Dalton, Knox Overstreet, Steven Meeks, Gerard Pitts, and central to the movie Mr John Keating. Mr Keating, an alumnus of Welton himself, is the most outlandish avant-garde in the form of the new English teacher.

A nonconformist who is fresh of breath air among all the austerity endowed upon the students influences the budding minds in the most natural way by talking about the box, ordinary, conventions and how to rethink the boundaries if any. A series of events lead the lads to discover that Keating was a part of the “Dead Poets Society” where members discussed and enjoyed poetry.

This concept is so intriguing for the teens that they restart the hitherto dead society, thereby committing an act of mutiny in their way. The boys unlearn the norms and transcend the rules to envision and live the true essence of life. But as every action has a consequence, this act too doesn’t go unnoticed. A motley of rebellion, reinventions, valour, and tears the movie sure sheds light on the perils of meritocracy and how important it is to cherish passion. 

About the director

Peter Lindsay Weir, (born 21 August 1944) is an Australian film director. He was a leading figure in the Australian New Wave cinema movement. The climax of Weir's early career was the $6 million multi-national production The Year of Living Dangerously (1982).

After the success of The Year of Living Dangerously, Weir directed a diverse group of American and international films covering most genres—many of the major box office hits—including Academy Award-nominated films such as the thriller Witness (1985), the drama Dead Poets Society (1989), the romantic comedy Green Card (1990), the social science fiction comedy-drama The Truman Show (1998) and the epic historical drama Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World (2003).

For his work on these five films, Weir personally accrued six Academy Award nominations as either a director, writer or producer.

Personal Verdict

The development of the movie is excellent in every possible way focusing not just on Todd and Neil, but shedding light on each character to draw in the audience. John Keating is the deus ex machina who saves the students from the monotony of a severely strict curriculum. He is a man who comes across as someone who could alleviate all the suffering.

Neil who is the epitome of perfection is no exception. Under the facade of an ideal student, there lies a bag of liberating dreams. Todd also outgrows his taciturn self and lightens up, momentarily forgetting the burden. Charlie (aka Nuwanda) reinvents himself to be true to himself. Overstreet dares to dream. Drunk on ephemerality, the first half of the movie is the embodiment of la vie en rose. And I loved Robin Williams who thoroughly justified the role.

The cast was beyond perfect. The subtle theme of the movie circumvents foisted dreams on young adolescents who are quite immature to take their own decisions and in the truest sense is relatable. The conflict of emotions and the intensifying pressure from parents to outperform always crumble the true passions of innocent beings.

The movie is perfect in every aspect. The denouement is so emotionally stifling that I sat stunned for several minutes. There was no way to justify it, but it was a necessary extrapolation of the truth. Multiple questions tormented me, yet this is the movie I could rewatch for the rest of my life. 

Favourite Stills from the Movie

Favourite Quotes

1. “Now in this class, you can either call me Mr Keating or if you're slightly more daring, O Captain my Captain.”

2. “No matter what anybody tells you, words and ideas can change the world.”

3. “You must strive to find your own voice, boys, and the longer you wait to begin, the less likely you are to find it at all.”

4. “... there is a great need in all of us to be accepted, but you must trust what is unique or different about yourself, even if it is odd or unpopular.”

In a nutshell

This movie is a really good watch and is thoroughly enjoyable. It keeps the truth before the viewer as it is. You can watch it once and begin to question several things, it brews unrest in one’s soul. I highly recommend this movie to everyone. 

My rating: 5 out of 5

Written by: Anushka Singh