If there is a movie that truly depicts a teacher in a straight yet effective manner, it is this movie "To Sir, With Love" based on the book of the same name by E R Braithwaite. I had read a small excerpt of the book during a literature class and this attracted me to see the movie. The movie moved me a lot and I personally consider this movie as a true classic.
Sidney Poitier is simply an amazing actor. He plays the role of a teacher Mark Thackeray who has failed to find a job as an engineer and hence has decided to work as a teacher until he gets a break. He ends up in a school where all the kids are rejects, considered as the worst of all. Initially losing his temper with the kids and not being able to resort to corporal punishment, Mark comes up with a revolutionary method of teaching which he hopes can be used to bring about a change in the spoiled bunch of kids.
And he does. His method works and soon all the students begin to transform themselves. But not everything goes on perfectly smooth. There is always this generation gap between the students which causes them to lose their faith in him at one time and distance themselves. All the actors who play the students also have done a wonderful job with their respective roles.
What is very special about this movie is that it does not show something magical. It is simply psychology at work. Mark knows the way kids think and precisely attacks them in the areas where they will get affected most. He plays a wonderful set of tricks and manages to bring about a transformation in the kids which comes out at a believable pace. The movie does not show unbelievable magic but demonstrates to us the power of patience and goodness.
This movie is about an ideal teacher and might well serve the purpose of being an ideal movie to demonstrate the qualities of a great teacher. The most touching scene comes at the very end. Knowing how many more kids he can help makes Mark realize that it is his purpose in life to help kids transform into men. The still scene where he tears up his appointment letter as a radio engineer simply sums up the message of the movie effectively.
A must watch for all serious movie goers. It is an old movie but nonetheless it still has a message for our times.
Sidney Poitier is simply an amazing actor. He plays the role of a teacher Mark Thackeray who has failed to find a job as an engineer and hence has decided to work as a teacher until he gets a break. He ends up in a school where all the kids are rejects, considered as the worst of all. Initially losing his temper with the kids and not being able to resort to corporal punishment, Mark comes up with a revolutionary method of teaching which he hopes can be used to bring about a change in the spoiled bunch of kids.
And he does. His method works and soon all the students begin to transform themselves. But not everything goes on perfectly smooth. There is always this generation gap between the students which causes them to lose their faith in him at one time and distance themselves. All the actors who play the students also have done a wonderful job with their respective roles.
What is very special about this movie is that it does not show something magical. It is simply psychology at work. Mark knows the way kids think and precisely attacks them in the areas where they will get affected most. He plays a wonderful set of tricks and manages to bring about a transformation in the kids which comes out at a believable pace. The movie does not show unbelievable magic but demonstrates to us the power of patience and goodness.
This movie is about an ideal teacher and might well serve the purpose of being an ideal movie to demonstrate the qualities of a great teacher. The most touching scene comes at the very end. Knowing how many more kids he can help makes Mark realize that it is his purpose in life to help kids transform into men. The still scene where he tears up his appointment letter as a radio engineer simply sums up the message of the movie effectively.
A must watch for all serious movie goers. It is an old movie but nonetheless it still has a message for our times.