Le cercle des poètes disparus, 1989, Peter Weir

Introduction:

The dead poets society/ Le cercle des poètes disparus in French is an american movie released in 1989 by Peter Weir and written by Tom Schulman who was inspired by his own experience as a teacher. This dramatic movie received an oscar of the best script in 1990. It was also adopted in novel in 1990 by Nancy Kleinbaum.

  In the 1960s, Todd Anderson, a shy young boy integrated the prestigious Welton Academy in the Vermont. It's here that he meets Neil and his friends. The life's boarders is upset because of the arrival of a new litterature teacher : M. Keating. This teacher communicates to them his passion for poetry, his taste for freedom and his anti-conformism ; volonties to which the children's parents are opposed. In the other hand, Mr.Keating will not back down and will encourage studients to enjoy the present day, this is going to incite them to reinvent the dead poet society.

The dead poets society is an old studients's brotherhood which Keating was a part. Studients organise every night ; meeting in a cave where they dancing, singing, playing and reciting famous poems (like Whitman, Hemley, Brawning, Lindsay, Tennyson or Thoreau's poems) or poems that they invent themselves. They learn a different view of life. At beginning of each ceremony, they begin with a fetish sentence : «I declare to reconstitute the Dead Poets Society of Welton. I went to the woods because I wanted to live deliberately. I wanted to live deep and suck out all the marrow of life. To put to rout all that was not life; and not, when I had come to die, discover that I had not lived. »

Characters:

        In this movie, there are many characters, each protagonist is different.

The main character is John Keating interpereted by Robin Williams. John Keating is a litterature teacher. He is charismatic, intelligent and passionate of poetry. John is an old member of dead poet society. This professor will upset the life of these studients. In fact, Mr Keating wants to teach them creativity, the lack of rules and the refusal of conformism. He is there to show them who the realy are because for their studients he's the father they don't have.

        Neil Perry, he's interpreted by Robert Sean Leonard. In the movie, the story revolves around this character.This young boy is passionate about theater. Neil is very intelligent and friendly. He's a member of dead poets society but it's he who will upset his brotherhood. Even if he's a good student, Neil is very frustrated, resigned and desapprouving and that because of his father.

        In fact, Mr Perry is the father of Neil. He is incarnated by Kurtwood Smith. Mr.Perry is a very strict father because he forces him to give up on that dream. Mr Perry would like Neil to become a doctor but it's not Neil's choice. He don't use physical force to make his son obey but Neil obeys his father. It's this character who will lead the drama.

        An other protagonist : Todd Anderson interpreted by Ethan Hawke. Todd is a new member to the Welton Academy, he feels very unconfortable because his parents pressure him to live up to his brother's legacy. This is a very shy boy and discreet. Todd changes throughout the movie. In the beginning, he was very shy and didn't read at the first Dead Poets meeting, he truly came out of his shell in the end when he wrote a poem and read it out loud at the Dead Poets meetings. SSdd feels important for once in his life. Thoughout the movie, he learned more about himself.

        In this movie Gales Hemsem, plays the role of Charlie Dalton; heir of a rich family. He is an arrogant boy, very cocky. He is joyful to be a member of the dead poet society and he is the one that announce the beginning of the meeting.

        Knox Overstreet is incarnate by Josh Charles. He is an extrovert, dredger, athletic and romantic person. He is the only to have a girlfriend and like the other boys, he is a member of the brotherhood. Like the majority of the characters, he has stricts and rich parents.

        One of the students is very traditionnal, have ginger hair, is the perfect example of everything Keating is against and he is also a member of the famous brotherhood. His name is Cameron Richard played by Dylan Kussman. It's he who will betray the brotherhood.

        The last two members of the dead poets society are Steven Meeks interpreted by Allelon Ruggiro and Pitts Gerard played by James Waterston. They are an exceptional duo in the movie and they are also a member of the famous brotherhood. Pitts is very tall, not very talkative and keep one's feet firmly on the ground contrary of Steven who is small intelligent and he enjoy makes jokes.         

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