High School

Directed by the celebrated documentarian Frederick Wiseman, High School, no doubt, is one of the defining classics of cinema verite. Released in 1968, this unique film offers an unfiltered look into all the nuances that make American high school education what it is.

High School is set in Northeast High School, Philadelphia, a representative of the thousands of other American high schools established during that era of burgeoning public education. Wiseman's intuitive direction faithfully documents the everyday lives of students and teachers here, ensuring we see an educational powerhouse through a very personal, yet objective lens.

The movie doesn't follow a traditional linear narrative, but rather compiles different events that occur in the school. Everything from the mundane to the socially significant gets included in the film, making it feel just like any other day at school. From morning assembly, sports practices, singing practice, classroom lectures, student-teacher interactions to parent-teacher conferences, the film bravely peels back the mysterious layers of high school life.

High School sketches a quintessential American high school in the late 60s, a melting pot of different characters, ideas, and people. With the ongoing Vietnam War in the backdrop, various shades of socio-political tensions subtly seep into the film's narrative. The film manages to capture this undercurrent in its unassuming manner, subtly revealing each layer of bureaucratic formality, conformity, and pedagogical principles guiding such institutions.

The unadorned yet profound storytelling of High School helps it strike a chord with its viewers. Wiseman adopts a nonpartisan approach in his filmmaking, simply observing and recording the actions without providing any commentary or judgment. An important facet of the cinéma vérité style, this technique enhances the viewer's experience by allowing them to form their own opinions and interpretations on what they see.

There are no pre-planned interviews, pre-set scenes, or any sort of script in High School. Real teachers, real students and real experiences make up its substance. The interactions between teachers and students reveal the power dynamics, disciplinary tactics, educational philosophies, and pedagogical approaches that were dominant in the era. One teacher, for example, dwells on the significance of proper hairstyle and dress code while another shares an interpretation of “Casey at the Bat,” a famous 19th-century baseball ballad, reflecting the wide range of subjects and teaching styles present in high school.

As the film progresses, we get encased in Northeast High School's world view, shaped by its rules, customs, and culture. The film does not shy away from the strict hierarchy and rules that govern the school environment, which at times may seem unjust or harsh. The figure of the disciplinarian principal, the over-worked teacher, the ardent learner, or the rebellious student adds to the realism of the film's portrayal and takes us back in time.

The atmosphere of the school, the collective teenage angst, the fulminating push for conformity all are depicted with raw honesty throughout the film. It underlines the importance of the high school system, seen as a channel through which students must pass to mould into so-called 'good, obedient citizens.

What makes High School particularly significant is that it was one of the first examples of this type of filmmaking applied specifically to the education system. The school, which is a central hub of adolescent life, is depicted in all its glory and complexities, making it not only a record of a particularly influential period in American history but also a commentary on the educational philosophy of that time.

In conclusion, High School from 1968 is a mesmerizing piece of cinema that skillfully weaves a narrative without a conventional plot. Not just a documentary, it is a living artefact of an era, a poignant critique of an institution, and a work of art that stands the test of time. It illuminates daily life in an era and an institution that was at once so ordinary and so profound.