School Life

Charming, ramshackle documentary School Life traces a year at an Irish boarding school.

2783d ago

Because there are no to-the-camera interviews in "School Life," no confessionals, no pie-charts explaining the school's history or philosophy, the submergence into the school's atmosphere is total.

2783d ago

In tone, School Life feels like a recruiting film for prospective students. It isn’t exactly profound, except perhaps in the way it makes a case for the theory that happiness comes first, and then learning.

2783d ago

School Life is a loving portrait, primarily, of the inspirational educator couple, who command the respect of their students and always seem to know what a particular child needs to hear.

2783d ago

Irish docmaker Neasa Ní Chianáin's Sundance-tapped film winningly surveys the daily routine of an exclusive, unusual prep school.

2783d ago

The central couple’s unforced benevolence is hard to resist; the bespectacled John, in particular, exhibits remarkable comfort in front of the camera, his frizzy white hair and knowing reaction shots lending him a kind of quizzical charisma throughout.

2783d ago

Neasa Ni Chianain's teaching-focused documentary will obtain its North American bow in competition at Sundance.

2783d ago

School Life is unfortunately committed to keeping its subjects, especially Headfort's students, at arm's length.

2783d ago