Deads Poets Society Reviewer - Mary Yanglem
Dead Poets Society is a 1989 American teen drama film written by Tom Schulman, directed by Peter Weir and starring Robin Williams. John Keating, a new substitute English teacher at a prestigious and strict prep school, Welton Academy challenges the traditional and orthodox methods of teaching in the school and motivates his students to seek originality and find their voices. He inspires his students to develop a passion for life and encourages them to be free thinkers through poetry.
He ingrains upon the idea of Carpe diem, which means “ Seize the day” and to make their lives extraordinary. The intriguing part of the movie comes into play in the second half where the movie becomes an examination of happiness, dreams and death. Dead poets society also deals with the contrasting ideas behind realists and romantics. Romanticism is used to question a world overshadowed by realism.
The writer however does not advocate for either of the two, but the audience is kept in suspense and to rely upon their thought process. Education is viewed as a pivotal but destructive experience in the movie. The capacity for youths to prosper and succeed is countered by the chilling potential to destroy themselves or to be destroyed by a large and at times brutal world. The movie is quite relatable with high school life and you will feel like a walk down memory lane in many scenes with a hint of nostalgia. It is a must watch, especially for the youths to understand the reality and bitterness of life.