It has been a long time since a movie like Dead Poet's Society has come along, and so realistically and dramatically taught a lesson about life. Released in 1989 the movie was directed by Peter Weir and written by Tom Schulman. It seems like these days in cinema movies that try to teach us a strong lesson are often untouchable to those who live a simple life, as the portrayal of its context appears super human and removed from human capability. Dead Poet's Society is a movie that directly touches upon the theme of living life, and it's not afraid to use a few human characters in order to tell us of something that is so powerful. Set in a conformists 1950's college prep school, Welton Academy, Robin Williams gives one of his finest performances as John Keating, an English teacher whose passion for poetry and self-expression inspires seven of his students to form the Dead Poet's Society, and forever changes their lives. This movie does a superb job of telling its story in the most truthfully humanistic way, very skillfully projects to the audience the lesson that life is meant to be lived to its fullest, we must seize the day and stand up for who we are, even if that means going against the conformity.
The story centers around seven of Williams's character Keatings students, and tells of their eventual forming of the Dead Poet's Society. The movie follows four of the boys in particular as they eagerly learn to live under Keatings influence, and begin to stand up for who they are in an attempt to seize the day. This movie is quick to introduce Williams characters as a unique man who easily inspires his audience to think about living life to it's fullest, and right away viewers are made aware of what he has to offer to the movies theme. Keating's teaching methods are unorthodox, and do not mingle well with what the schools conformist environment has to offer. Welton Academy screams for discipline and honors a straight-lined no nonsense, realist policy, while Keating holds close to individuality, and freedom of express.
