The History Boys :: Wessex Scene Online

The History Boys

Russell Tovey in the The History Boys

23rd November 2006
Kate Davies

About this film

Title	The History Boys
Director	Nicholas Hytner
Release Date	13 October 2006
Certificate
Genres	Comedy, Drama
Our Rating	4.5/5.0
Shown at Union Films Sunday 28th January 2007 7:00pm

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More by Kate Davies

Jan 08 - St. Trinians
May 07 - Shadowboxer
Dec 06 - Breaking And Entering
Nov 06 - Prime
Oct 06 - The Devil Wears Prada

The History boys trailer

An unruly class of gifted and charming teenage boys pursue of sex, sport, and higher education.

The first film collaboration between director Nicholas Hytner and screenwriter Alan Bennett since their Oscar-nominated, BAFTA-winning feature film The Madness Of King George, and adapted from the stage production of the same name, it tells the story of a group of bright, funny lads in Yorkshire, who as history students are in hot pursuit of an undergraduate place at Oxford or Cambridge.

They are taught by their maverick English teacher (Richard Griffiths), a young professor hired to boost their test scores (Stephen Campbell Moore), their dry and somewhat jaded history teacher (Frances de la Tour), and a headmaster obsessed with results (Clive Merrison), who between them attempt to lead the boys to success in the daunting Oxbridge examination.

The cast remain the same as that in the National Theatre production, and the chemistry in the Olivier award-winning play transfers seamlessly to the big screen. A nostalgic trip to school days gone by, and a gay-themed drama in one, the script is brilliant; witty and funny, Accompanied by a killer eighties soundtrack, the History Boys poignantly deals with the various issues facing the boys and their teachers, such as sexuality, class and even paedophilia while casting a sceptical eye over the British education system, whose dark side is personified by the head.

The lads are all likeable characters, and their boyish friendship, filled with humour, makes you want to join their gang. They are all played fantastically well, but the standout performance (for me, anyway) comes from Samuel Bennett as Posner as he inspires the audience’s sympathies and affection while he struggles (often to hilarious effect) with his un-requited love for Dakin.

The sexual tension in The History Boys is palpable, which I truly wasn’t expecting from the largely male cast. Dakin is the quintessential heart-throb of the piece and while he is bedding the female school secretary, he flirts up a storm with teacher Irwin, who becomes something of a sexual conquest, all the while exploiting Posner’s crush on him. It was surprising and refreshing to see non-heterosexual romantic relationships played out with such thought, sensitivity and humour.

I absolutely loved this film. It is by far the best I’ve seen in a long time. Having never seen the play, I wasn’t sure what to expect, but I giggled throughout, and left singing The Smiths and Joy Division... definitely a winner. Go and see this film!