Review of The History Boys (2006) by Eliane B — 14 Feb 2008

I had high hopes for this movie, picturing it as a british version of Dead Poet's Society, which is what the trailers depicted - but while the movie was mostly entertaining and definitely watcheable, the plot takes some interesting twists that seem forced.

In particular it seems like all the characters struggle with their sexuality, with the male flirt who doesn't care who he sleeps with, the jewish boy who struggles with being gay and being in love with one of his classmates, the young new teacher who has a penchant for the same classmate, to the old teacher who fondles the boys while driving home as a way of "showing his appreciation".

I think if the story line had been to explore these ambiguous sexual desires then it might have worked, but instead they seemed to portray the only boy who was a self-proclaimed homosexual in an incredibly stereotypical manner, and seemed to blur the lines between homosexuality and pedophilia for many of the other characters.

I almost take offense to the fact that they play off the fact that Hector, the teacher, fondles the boys and gets away with it - and that they end the movie with the other boy saying he's become a teacher and has a hard time staying away from his pupils.

.. in my mind there is a big difference between being gay and having sexual thoughts about your students - and I think the message in this film takes us a step backwards rather than forwards.