This 1995 film is
something of curio. It sits somewhere in between the naturalness of Kes
and the theatricality of Dead Poets Society and both of those films’
influence is present. The natural kid’s acting and dialogue is a bit like Ken
Loach’s style yet the rich musical soundtrack and use of dramatic shots accompanied
by the repeated theme played on dulcimer is more Peter Weir. That’s not to say
the film has no value of its own; indeed, in subject matter it ploughs its own
furrow set in a rural special needs school where a new teacher, Steve Drake, at
first struggles to get to grips with the chaotic atmosphere.
