by rogerco on Tue 6th May 2025 DVD proj @ home

If..(only really it was just like that)

Summary

first seen in 1968 and not lost any of its power

Full review

Not only a stunningly accurate portrait of life in a public school in the 1960s, also and exploration of the tension between convention and rebellion - what makes a rebel and why do 90% of the victims of the public school system end up as damaged hidebound drones and 10% become unknown brothers n arms.

First seen when it came out in '68 in the cinema in Horsham (we were banned from going, but rules are made to be broken...hey ho) and watched again when I got it on DVD a few years ago and most recently now and again with David Taylor and Jane a couple of days later.

Clearly elements of fantasy - telegraphed by the use of b&w - and the school is more military than I remember, but the ethos and day to day were exact. Travis acted out my fantasy - tear it all down - I guess I was lucky to be a loner and not have a group of close freinds to build a revolution with.

Watching with David was an eye-opener for Jane as we provided a running commentary  on how "we had that" and "that really happened" and "yes in our place too".

I have a probably false memory of cheering in the cinema at the end of the film. One for the "One Solution Film Club"