School Life (2016)

2016

100 mins

Directed by Neasa Ní Chianáin, David Rane
94%
77%
Documentary

Documentary featuring two soon-to-retire teachers at an Irish boarding school who view their charges with equal parts eccentricity and care.

"It's... More

Documentary featuring two soon-to-retire teachers at an Irish boarding school who view their charges with equal parts eccentricity and care.

"It's like Hogwarts without the weirdness; a rambling boarding school in rural Ireland where children alternate between running wild and sitting in class. John and Amanda Leyden have taught there for over 40 years and no doubt they've seen it all, but their dedication (underlined in the film's original title, In Loco Parentis) is unwavering. Their approach is undoubtedly archaic, bringing to mind the St. Trinian's movies and Goodbye Mr Chips, but nonetheless they forge a bond with 21st century teen rebels and homesick kids alike. Ní Chianáin's fly-on-the-wall camera reaches every nook and cranny, but is never intrusive. Rather it captures the lives of teachers and students with liberal poignancy and charm." (Sydney Film Festival)

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School Life (2016) | Ratings & Reviews

94_%47 reviews
Rotten Tomatoes® rating
77_%208 reviews
Audience score rating

"It's hard not to be moved by the dedication and affection that the Headfort staff - given a bit more individual scrutiny here than the children - put into their work."

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Variety

"Perhaps the filmmakers tried to do too much, include too much, film too much."

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Urban Cinefile

"While Headfort may offer an aspirational model for schools, such pervasive niceness can come across as repetitive on screen..."

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The New York Times

"Imagine Fred Wiseman directing a remake of School of Rock but in Ireland and you're almost there, but with more incidental music and a closer focus on the charming characters."

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The Guardian

"Everything in and about this film is eccentric, old-fashioned, [and] charmingly anachronistic."

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Screen Daily

""School Life" is as charming, intimate and warm-hearted an observational documentary as you'd ever want to see."

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Los Angeles Times

"Ostensibly documenting a year in the life of Headfort School... the Spanish co-production instead quickly reveals itself as an irresistibly admiring portrait of long-married couple John and Amanda Leyden, both staff members for over 40 years."

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