12 films about teachers that inspire and make you think

12. Teachers

Teachers

• USA, 1984.
• Drama, comedy.
• Duration: 107 minutes.
• IMDb: 6.1.

A graduate of Eddie's school is filing a lawsuit against the administration for a very strange reason: he was given a certificate, although the teenager still cannot read or write. The thing is that teachers are more busy with their own worries than teaching children. Eddie is unexpectedly supported by Alex, a social science educator who is truly pro-development schoolchildren.

The picture reveals an important problem of society: often the administration only wants to get rid of careless students. And only a few idealists like Alex are ready to support them, even though such a step could damage a career.

11. Renaissance man

Renaissance man

• USA, 1994.
• Drama, comedy.
• Duration: 128 minutes.
• IMDb: 6.2.

Advertising agent Bill loses his job and cannot get a new job. He eventually agrees to become an English language and literature teacher. But he is not sent to school, but to a military unit, where recruits are more interested in training with weapons than reading Shakespeare.

The leading role in this picture is played by the famous Danny de Vito. And the plot perfectly shows how Bill turns from an indifferent worker into an enthusiast, and the military is seriously interested in literature.

10. Dangerous thoughts

Dangerous minds

• USA, 1995.
• Drama, biography.
• Duration: 99 minutes.
• IMDb: 6.5.

After serving in the United States Marine Corps, LuAnn Johnson gets a job teaching English at one of the California colleges. But she gets the class with the most disadvantaged students, who often think about street fights and drugsrather than homework. LuAnn has to apply the skills she learned in the army to somehow get the students back to normal.

As opposed to The Renaissance Man, this plot brings a bit of military education to the class, which can also be helpful. Although the picture was remembered by many thanks to the stunning composition of Gangsta's Paradise on the soundtrack.

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9. School of rock

The school of rock

• USA, 2003.
• Comedy, musical.
• Duration: 109 minutes.
• IMDb: 7.1.

The talented but unlucky guitarist Dewey Finn is kicked out of his own band. Left completely without money, he goes to work as a substitute teacher in a private school. But Dewey does not understand anything about teaching, and therefore simply assembles a rock group from his students.

Many people know the director Richard Linklater for complex films like "Before Dawn" or "Adolescence"That he has been working on for years. But his "School of Rock" is a light and perky film that shows that a teacher, being on the same wavelength with his students, can achieve a lot from them.

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8. Mr. Holland's opus

Mr. Holland's Opus

• USA, 1995.
• Drama, musical.
• Duration: 143 minutes.
• IMDb: 7.3.

The great musician Glenn Holland leaves concert activity and gets a job as a music teacher at the school. At first, he approaches work formally, but gradually realizes that children can be attracted to the subject by talking about more fashionable styles. Holland still dreams of writing a great composition, but a strong blow awaits him: the son of the character is born deaf.

The film, in which the great Richard Dreyfuss played the main role, covers about 30 years of the heroes' lives. The plot shows how Holland gradually turns from a selfish dream of fame to a desire to help others.

7. Coach Carter

Coach Carter

• USA, Germany, 2005.
• Drama, biography, sports.
• Duration: 136 minutes.
• IMDb: 7.3.

Coach Ken Carter joins the school basketball team. Pupils under his leadership practically do not know defeat. But then the mentor makes a very tough decision - forbids the players to train until they catch up in other subjects.

The plot of the picture is based on a real story. And gorgeous Samuel L. Jackson showed a very unusual image of a teacher who cares not only about his business, but also about the life of students in general. Although in his decisions he can be very harsh.

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6. Stand up and achieve

Stand and Deliver

• USA, 1988.
• Drama, biography.
• Duration: 103 minutes.
• IMDb: 7.3.

A new computer science teacher, Haimi Escalante, arrives at a school in a poor neighborhood. Due to the lack of technology, he has to teach mathematics, which the mentor explains in an interesting and visual way. Excalante realizes that his students have great potential. But soon the school may be closed due to too low rates.

The film, which retells a true story, made the leading actor Edward James Olmos famous. A touching plot shows that a good teacher can present any subject in an entertaining and understandable way. And many schoolchildren simply need someone who will believe in them.

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5. Big debaters

The great debaters

• USA, 2007.
• Drama, melodrama, biography.
• Duration: 126 minutes.
• IMDb: 7.5.

Melvin Tolson is a debate coach at a college in a small Texas town. His wards, among whom there are only black students, will have to fight on equal terms in disputes with representatives of elite schools, including Harvard students. All this takes place in the 1930s, during the time of segregation.

Denzel Washington directed this film himself and played the main role. Moreover, the plot is based on the real story of Melvin Tolson, who with all his might fought against racism and segregation in USA.

4. Freedom writers

Freedom Writers

• Germany, USA, 2006.
• Drama, crime, biography.
• Duration: 123 minutes.
• IMDb: 7.5.

Young teacher Erin Gruell comes to school, where many teenagers are members of street gangs. At first, it seems that the heroine will not last even a week with daring charges. But Gruell manages to win the students' trust and create a friendly environment.

The plot of this picture has an unusual fate. The real-life Erin Gruell wrote her autobiography, The Diary of Free Writers, about her work at school. Later, journalist Tracy Durning filmed about the teacher documentary and she herself gave the idea of ​​artistic adaptation of the story.

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3. Teacher for the change

Detachment

• USA, 2011.
• Drama.
• Duration: 98 minutes.
• IMDb: 7.7.

Replacement teacher Henry Barth is sent to teach at a school located in a disadvantaged area. In this institution, students do not hesitate to swear right in the classroom and even insult their mentors. Bart manages to improve the atmosphere in the classroom. But in his personal life, everything is only getting worse.

Tony Kay's painting (American History X) is more a philosophical parable than a drama. The narration here is interrupted by the main character's monologues, and the ending looks very ambiguous. Partly because of this, critics gave the film an average rating. But acting Adriana Brody compensates for all the shortcomings of the plot.

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2. We'll live until Monday

• USSR, 1968.
• Drama.
• Duration: 106 minutes.
• IMDb: 8.0.

A new teacher of English comes to school - a very young Natalya Gorelova. Her former mentor Ilya Semyonovich Melnikov also teaches history right there. Only two of them are struggling with too impersonal and unified methods of education. In the meantime, pupils their worries: first love and the search for a place in the world.

Despite the fact that the action covers only three days, director Stanislav Rostotsky and screenwriter Georgy Polonsky managed to show literally all the important problems of Soviet schools. And Ilya Semyonovich Melnikov for many has turned into a reference image of a teacher: he teaches children not to cram, but to think and seek, and is always ready to stand up for his charges.

1. Society of Dead Poets

Dead poets society

• USA, 1989.
• Drama, comedy.
• Duration: 128 minutes.
• IMDb: 8.1.

The educational process at Wellton Academy is structured in the most rigorous and conservative way. But new language teacher John Keating is not going to follow the established order. He tells his students that their life is fleeting and you need to catch every moment. Then his charges secretly revive the literary club "Society of Dead Poets". However, one of them soon starts having problems.

John Keating, played by the great Robin Williams, is an example of a teacher who inspires his students and helps them discover new things about themselves. And the tragic plot of the film emphasizes that parents also need to take into account the desires and dreams of their children.

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What films about teachers did you like? Are serious dramas or witty comedies more memorable? Or maybe your favorite painting didn't make this list? Then tell us about it in the comments.