I'd like to tell about film which is called "Dangerous Minds". This is a drama film which was shot by John Smith in 1995 in the USA. It is based on the autobiography "My Posse Don't Do Homework" by former U.S. Marine LouAnne Johnson, who took up a teaching position at Carlmont High School in Belmont. Starring Michelle Pfeiffer, George Dzundza, Courtney B. Vance, Robin Bartlett Carla Nichols and others, the film received both negative and positive criticism.
The plot is about Louanne Johnson who is an ex-marine. She has recently separated from her husband. Her friend, a teacher, helped her to be hired as an English teacher in a high-school in a poor area. She is going to teach problem students from lower-class, who are involved in gang warfare and drug pushing. At first no one takes her seriously, but then she manages to motivate students for studing by very extraordinary methods such as teaching them karate, Bob Dylan's poetry that definitely is not a part of the curriculum. Besides her unusual teaching, Johnson tries to help her students with their problems. She manages to see in one of her students, Callie, a huge potential in English poetry and help her not to give up her study in spite of she becomes pregnant. Johnson also helps other her student, Raul, to believe in himself instilling confidence and self-respect in him by means of constant encouragements. She also tries to help her most troublesome student, who was finally killed. Trying to protect him from criminals, Johnson receives a huge respect from his girlfriend. Finally Louanne Johnson becomes a significant figure in the life of class, so that students don't want to let her go
So, the film is difficult from the psichological point of view. There are several moments which seem hard, such as fight of students or the death of Emilio. The film shows the typical life of teenagers from problem neighbourhood and the typical situation in American schools from such areas. But i'd like to mark especially a directing of the film. John Smith managed to make it so realistical by means of usage of obscene language, difficult characters and their destinies and unexpected turning points, such as death of one of the main characters.
Moreover I'd like to mark acting of the film. Michelle Pfeiffer was brilliant in the main role. She managed to play a teacher who is anxious about her class, who really saw in them not only clever and capable students, but true personalities with their own inner world, feelings and troubles. I liked the most the moment of the film when Mrs. Johnson knew about the death of Emilio, who seemed never to begin to respect her. However she began to cry really accepting this new of his death as a death of someone who was really dear to her. It was touching.
All in all, the film certainly impresses. This is another film that proves once again that to believe and not to give up are the main features of a teacher.
The plot is about Louanne Johnson who is an ex-marine. She has recently separated from her husband. Her friend, a teacher, helped her to be hired as an English teacher in a high-school in a poor area. She is going to teach problem students from lower-class, who are involved in gang warfare and drug pushing. At first no one takes her seriously, but then she manages to motivate students for studing by very extraordinary methods such as teaching them karate, Bob Dylan's poetry that definitely is not a part of the curriculum. Besides her unusual teaching, Johnson tries to help her students with their problems. She manages to see in one of her students, Callie, a huge potential in English poetry and help her not to give up her study in spite of she becomes pregnant. Johnson also helps other her student, Raul, to believe in himself instilling confidence and self-respect in him by means of constant encouragements. She also tries to help her most troublesome student, who was finally killed. Trying to protect him from criminals, Johnson receives a huge respect from his girlfriend. Finally Louanne Johnson becomes a significant figure in the life of class, so that students don't want to let her go
So, the film is difficult from the psichological point of view. There are several moments which seem hard, such as fight of students or the death of Emilio. The film shows the typical life of teenagers from problem neighbourhood and the typical situation in American schools from such areas. But i'd like to mark especially a directing of the film. John Smith managed to make it so realistical by means of usage of obscene language, difficult characters and their destinies and unexpected turning points, such as death of one of the main characters.
Moreover I'd like to mark acting of the film. Michelle Pfeiffer was brilliant in the main role. She managed to play a teacher who is anxious about her class, who really saw in them not only clever and capable students, but true personalities with their own inner world, feelings and troubles. I liked the most the moment of the film when Mrs. Johnson knew about the death of Emilio, who seemed never to begin to respect her. However she began to cry really accepting this new of his death as a death of someone who was really dear to her. It was touching.
All in all, the film certainly impresses. This is another film that proves once again that to believe and not to give up are the main features of a teacher.
