Essay/Term paper: Dead poets society

Essay, term paper, research paper:  Culture

Dead Poets Society


Scene where Knox Overstreet is on the telephone to Kris.

Knox Overstreet played a fair part in the film Dead Poets Society. One
particular scene that Knox was in was the phone conversation with the girl he
loves, Kris.
The scene starts with Knox at the telephone. The camera closes in on
his face and his fingers dialling the telephone. The camera stays on his face
as the phone rings and awaits a pick up. When Kris picks up the phone, Konx's
facial expression changes from one of ambition to one of much nervousness. The
camera swings to show Knox's hand as he promptly hangs up the phone. Next, the
camera swings around from Knox to his friends. This medium close-up shows the
disappointment on all their faces and that expression makes Knox ring once more.
This time, the camera angles are the same and Knox goes through with the
phone call all the way.
While he is talking, the camera is focused on his face and hand holding
the phone to his ear. When Knox hears the news that he has been invited to go
to a party with the girl of his dreams, his face lights up and he cant help but
smile. Still with the same angle, the camera swings around to show the faces of
his friends as he tells them his news. Their facial expressions as showed by
the camera are delightful and happy ones. This makes Knox even more happy.
The scene ends with a close up of Knox hanging up the phone and then a
high level shot of him running up the stairs.

Scene where Mr Keating tell the class to come up and stand on the desk.

To start this scene camera view as seen through Mr Keating's eyes shows
the whole class sitting quietly. He tells the class to come up and stand on the
desk and he does it himself. A high angle shot show Mr Keating standing on the
desk and looking around. We then see a low angle view of the whole class. This
shot shows that the class is reluctant to go up as it is not normal procedure.
You can tell that they are all used to a strict almost boring class and that is
why they are slow to try out Mr Keatings new methods.
As each student goes up we see a high angle shot of them and then a shot
of Mr Keatings face as he tells the boys to think differently and act
differently.

2.) Neil

The first scene where the director makes the audience feels sorry for
Neil is early in the movie. This happens where all Neil's friends are around.
Neil's father comes in and the camera goes into a low angle one, looking down
upon Neil. The camera moves around to show all his friends ready to leave but
then goes back to Mr Perry as he tells them all to stay. With the camera
switching from Neil to Mr Perry, Mr Perry delivers the news that Neil is to
cease all participation on the school paper. Mr Perry embarrasses Neil in front
of his friends and when Neil tries to reason with his father he is treated like
a criminal. Once outside Neil's room, Mr Perry gives Neil a stern and
unreasonable talking to. A close up of Neil's face reveals a sad and angry
young man who knows he cannot defy his fathers wishes.
When Mr Perry leaves, Neil's friends peer around the door and we once
again see Neil's face. This time he is putting on a brave face and assuring his
friends that he doesn't mind giving up the school paper when really he is
shattered.
Most times that we feel sorry for Neil are times where Neil clashes with
his strict father. The next time we feel for him is when he is all revved up
about going for the lead part in the play. He is really happy and can't wait to
start, but when Todd queries Neil about his father's opinion. This "bursts
Neil's bubble" as he is faced with reality. Neil knows that his father would
not approve of his part in the play and Neil actually looses his temper with
Todd.
The director shows Neil's emotions on the matter through a medium level
shot of Neil and Todd.
When Neil gets the part in the play, he fakes a permission note from his
father thinking he can participate in the play without his father knowing. I
don't know about the rest of the class but I felt sorry here as I think it is
sad that you have to keep something like this a secret from your parents. I
would like my parents to see me if I was as good as him at acting.
When Neil's father finds out that his son is in the play from a
different source, he hastens to the school and forbids Neil to be a part of the
play. This is the night before the opening. We feel sorry for him here as we
see Neil's face grow sadder than when he was dis-allowed to participate in the
school paper.
Neil takes his problem to the wise teacher, Mr Keating. Here we feel
very sorry Neil as we se him unable to control his emotions and he weeps. A
sympathetic Mr Keating tells him to stand up to his father and remain in the
play. This cheers Neil up and the audience think that he will tell his father
but it is sad when we learn that he lied to Mr Keating about him telling his
father.
Neil would rather lie to a teacher than tell his father. That is sad
and in my opinion that is the saddest thing apart from his death.
When Mr Perry enters the theatre during the play and Neil sees him, that
change in the facial expression shows us that Neil is scared, but determined to
complete the play.
After the play when Neil is taken home, low angled camera shots give the
impression of Neil being lesser of a person than his father. He seems to be
small, weak and powerless against his father. He is unable to stand up against
his father and when he eventually tries he is left speechless and his facial
expression "helpless", it was as if he had given up altogether and after
watching the movie we know he has given up.
The end of Neil's sad life begins with Neil carrying out an almost
"spiritual" ceremony and we see him treasuring the crown of thorns he wore in
the play.
To me, the director made Neil powerless against his father and that is
why I have sympathy for him.