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a glance, the simple theme shown in The History Boys is that if you’re gay, you should be a hermit and a teacher, but that might not be all of it. The entire film is a struggle between memorizing history and knowing history. Irwin and Hector have two polar teaching styles. Hector wants the boys to feel what the characters of history must have felt, know their motives, learn from their errors and apply the knowledge to their everyday lives. Irwin wants the boys to know the gist of the topics, just enough to pass the college application tests. The boys grow to be as glib about their own lives as they are about historical topics. The entire point of Hector’s life is trying to teach the boys to care. They don’t care about being felt up, having unrequited love, or even following a path to a future they never actually want. Maybe it’s a British thing for them not to question the path set by others. It is interesting to have this entire film revolve around everyone trying to get these boys into Oxford and Cambridge, without ever giving a reason for any of them to want to go. It is like an unspoken rule that these two colleges are their only options. Deeper, it gives a look into society’s shaping of every aspect of life.
Hector and Irwin, the opposing teachers, show the lives beyond this high school microcosm. The two men are attempting to fit into societal standards, yet are burdened by them.
I like how quickly the dynamics between characters change. It seems each new scene is focused on a different two person relationship in this twelve character plot. Seeing Dakin, Posner, Hector, and Irwin interacting with one of the other eight characters slowly unravels their identities. Even though the other characters are minor in comparison, they all feel real and whole. The main four choose to reveal different aspects of themselves to different people. It moves the story at a great pace, with the climax being extremely distinct from the “routine” tone of the rest of the film. There is also a very interesting resolution, which is told through a novel effect. It’s a good time.
The DVD itself has a few nice extras. There is a tour diary, which shows the group’s progression from on stage in London, through making the film, traveling to China and New Zealand, and ultimately becoming Tony winners on Broadway. Also, there is an in-depth look at how the cast and crew managed transitioning from stage to screen. This, plus director and writer commentary on the film makes a pretty fun DVD.
Movie Grade: B+
DVD Features Grade: A-
Overall Grade: A-
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