Aside from all the cinematic, photographic, casting, editing, and ambiance compliments I could lavish onto this lovely film, the thing that got me most was the balance of polarized realities and how they meshed through the conflict into a workable resolution. That all comes from superb directing.
This entire scenario is exactly like an Appalachian school house would have been in that era. My grandfather taught in one exactly like that. But they were often taught by men, in order to deal with the ruffians (both in the classroom, and the community.) Now comes this delicate girl of a school marm, played by Kellie Martin, who shows that virtue, ability, and dedication to principle can indeed rule over brutal opposition. In that sense, it is an inspiring movie.
Direction and filming are excellent, and scenes are edited together very smoothly. There is contained, all within this one film, a sense of adventure, fear, hope, rage, love, uncertainty, confidence, conflict, resolution, individuality, and community. It also reflects realistically a genuine era in the history of remote Appalachia. This is a film my family and I will never tire of.
