I found this documentary film listed in the book 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die, I would never have known about it before reading the book, it was rated average by critics, so I hoped it would be a justified recommendation. Producer and director Frederick Wiseman takes his hand-held camera and captures life in the day of the students and teachers at Northeast High School in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The film essentially listens in on students, teachers and parents as they deal with issues of everyday life. Lessons seen throughout the day include languages, gym, poetry, food/cookery, history, music, debating, sexual education, indoor and outdoor sports, drama and assembly. It also includes students going in and out of detention, in offices and meetings with teachers and parents, students in the hall, and teachers in the dining room. It ends with a teacher reading out a poignant letter from a former student going to the demilitarised zone in Vietnam. Nothing extraordinary happens during the short time this film lasts for as it eavesdrops on the various school situations, it certainly exposes the deadly conformity of the place, it is narrow focus on the student-teacher relationships, but it is a relatively interesting study, not a bad documentary. Worth watching, at least once!
Review of High School
