School of Life

Young Stanley is bullied at school and can only dream of the day when he can turn the tables. In a lesson his teacher Miss Given declares this the most valuable lesson the class will likely ever have and Stanley is excited by the prospect. However when bully Garth sits next to him he finds himself cut out of the class and unable to share the lesson material.

OK, so I can see what the film is saying and perhaps I can go further and read in some interesting lessons to be had about the lessons of being bullied and perhaps the importance of overcoming adversity in forming character and so on. These themes are not what I have a problem with. What I had a problem with was that the film didn't really deliver very much very well. The build up is good but the ending is blunt and a tad unsatisfying. I can imagine it was hoped that it would be punchy and arresting but for me it felt like a bit of a bad punchline and had no substance behind it to convince me otherwise.

Polonsky's direction is good whether it is the setting of each scene or the fluid motion through the school – it is just a shame that somewhere something has happened to Smyth's script and I'm not sure it is was him or the director that didn't make it work. Doolan seems comfortable in the lead role while Lynch adds her name and presence in a small role.

An engaging film then but one that abruptly failed to work for me in the split second it took to end. A shame then because I was drawn in but the substance isn't there (or isn't brought out that well) and as a result the end feels like a punch line to a joke rather than a point that hits the viewer.

I really wish I hadn't read that this film won the award for Best British Film at the British Independent Film Awards in 2004. Because I knew this before the film began, I really expected a lot--perhaps more than the film could even deliver. I expected brilliance. However, despite competent direction and a decent film, it fell far short of my expectations. Part of this is because the payoff just didn't seem to be there. Part of it was because I really DON'T think the answer the teacher gave is true at all. Had she said "life is learning that jaded jerks in the educational system claim to care about kids but down deep could care less", then I might have enjoyed it more. As a school teacher who really does like his job, I just don't think what the teacher said was all that profound, though the film does provide interesting fodder for discussion---how schools often fail kids who really are eager to learn.

A fair film but not one that changed my life. I think Bob the Moo hit this one right on the head.

I remember when I first watched this amazing short film at the Tehran short film festival back In the day and I was blown away by it's message, and I believe being young, I probably never completely understood it at that point and later life itself proved how deep this very short film really is. something to watch over and over again and still be amazed at how fresh every viewing is. it has one of those clever ideas that you wish you had come up with!

I'm very disappointed that the director has not done any other movie as he's clearly has a lot to offer aside from his main expertise which is cinematography. also, I need to mention that when I first saw this flick I immediately contacted Jake Polonsky and he was kind enough to sent me a signed DVD to Iran. dear Mr. Polonsky, if you ever read this, I want you to know that I'll never forget your kindness and you and your movie are forever in my heart.

Simple, meaningful and delivers an emotional punch. I regularly trail through dull short films and it's always nice to come across something that has a simple and enlightened message, without pretensions or self indulgent directing.

A boy at school has to attend a lesson when his friend plays truant and is given the most important lesson of his life, only to find that when there are not enough copies to go around he has to share with the school bully.

Unlike most short films featuring children or actors these kids hold their own and it's believable. The soundtrack nicely complements the emotion of the piece and the punchline of the film works well.