Media Response 5

This movie's been sitting in my netflix queue for a couple of months now but I finally got around to watching it this weekend and I'm so glad I finally found the time to watch because it was great. Netflix labeled it a mockumentary and I suppose in the sense that it is not actually real it is "mock"-umentary but I tend to associate that term with Christopher Guest style over the top antics and while there were a few moments that approached that in this film, as a general rule the film felt extremely real to me. I've definitely had those freak out moments in the classroom, I've said things that 2 seconds later I wished I could take back. I've struggled to get kids to care about subjects that they seem to see as having little to no value in their lives. Most of the teachers in the film clearly cared about being good teachers and it was nice to see a movie in which most of the teachers seemed competent instead of making it all about the lone teacher who actually cares about her students amidst a see of indifference that seems to make up the plot of most Hollywood films about teaching.

Watching the film got me thinking about what draws us into a movie and causes us to identify with the characters. In this film I identified with the characters because they seemed to reflect some of my own experiences and emotions, but does that mean that the film won't appeal to anyone who hasn't taught in a high school? Clearly not, because I've also found myself moved to tears by situations and characters that bear no resemblance to my actual life. I don't really think I have any conclusions here, but I do think it's interesting how some stories capture us because they seem to embody some of our own experiences while others can be completely outside of our realm and yet also hold great appeal and empathy for us as an audience.