CHEATERS

US, 2000, 108 minutes. Colour.
Jeff Daniels, Jena Malone, Paul Sorvino, Luke Edwards, Blake Heron, Dov Tiefenbach.
Directed by John Stockwell.

Cheaters is a film made for Home Box Office, television release in the United States, possible theatrical release elsewhere. It has a very strong cast. It was written by actor John Stockwell who moved into direction with this film (after making a few when he was much younger) and has continued to make a variety of films, usually action films (Blue Crush, Into the Blue, Middle of Nowhere).

The film is based on an actual case in Chicago in the 1990s. At a rundown neighbourhood school, the principal (Paul Sorvino) relies on one of the teachers (Jeff Daniels) to coach the students for an academic decathlon. The group is motley, multiracial, different ethnic backgrounds from Europe. The team works hard, has the opportunity to obtain the questions for one of the sessions and decides then to look at them. Answers were not provided – the student still has to do the work. However, this gives rise to a lot of discussion about the nature of cheating. It is also put in the context of deprived children who lack opportunities and the contrast with those from privileged schools. While this doesn’t make an argument for cheating, it gives a perspective to the decisions made by the teacher and students.

Jena Malone is the central character amongst the students. Robert Joy is the teacher who coaches the successfully-winning team.

The film is an interesting variation on the teacher-student film, the schools in the ghettos (like Dangerous Minds, Lean on Me).

However, the film is interesting in its depiction of the character, Gerard Plecki (who appears in a small role in the film) and his character and moral dilemmas (and the disapproval of his mother).

1. A true story? The testimonies at the end of the film? Gerard Plecki himself, consultant for the film, small part? The use of news excerpts at the time? The comments from education authorities – and some of them in jail for mismanagement and tax evasion?

2. Chicago, the schools, the neighbourhoods, homes, the contests and the media? The 90s musical score?

3. The issue of cheating? The statistics at the end of the film, the moral issues? Cheating as a form of protest and civil disobedience? The plausibility of this argument? The dialogue given to Plecki? The explanation of civil disobedience and opportunities?

4. The arguments about cheating? Having the questions yet having to find the answers? The students and the required study? The consequences for their secrecy? Rationalising what they had done? The principal of the school? The visiting authorities and calling the teachers and students to account? The role of the media, expose? The police, the interrogations, their tactics to pressurise students into admitting guilt? Plecki and his justification? The students and their justification of their behaviour?

5. Steinmetz High? The pupils, the collage of the credits? Chaos, the ethnic backgrounds? A public school? The class, Gerard Plecki and the discussions about Paradise Lost, Milton, Angels and Devils? The principal, his staff? His allotting jobs? The spirit of the school? The incident with the photocopier, the privileges for sports teachers, budgets? Not for the academic decathlon?

6. Gerard Plecki and his character, the background of his father, migration, working hard, injuries, being sacked? His living with his mother? Her comments on his brother and his successful career? Plecki at home? The study, the kids at his home? The neighbour’s final reaction – and implying misconduct? His mother finally condemning him?

7. The Milton themes, the discussions about ruling in poverty and serving in wealth? Summarising the issues, symbolising them?

8. The range of students, Jolie and her leadership? In the introduction to the film, black and white photography, her being interrogated? Leading into the exploration of the theme?

9. The plan, the decathlon, study and its demands, the different subjects, the different students and their backgrounds, ethnic origins, poor, the role of their parents, the Catholic boy, Irwin and his Jewish background? The interactions between the students?

10. The first round of the decathlon, the Whitney Young students, their teacher and his superiority? The wagers with Gerard? The Whitney Young students? The competition, performance? The prizes? Steinmetz coming fifth?

11. The further study, the students and their ambitions, finding the questions, the boy coming to Irwin? The producing of the questions? The ethos, the discussions? Gerry and the arguments? Driving with Agnieszka and her hesitations, persuading her? Dominik and his religious background? Making Irwin a judge but not one of the competitors? Getting ready, the different strategies?

12. The competition, their wanting to not be noticed but winning? The various reactions, Whitney Young, the teacher, the establishment of the inquiry?

13. The aftermath for the students themselves, their ability to cope, the secrecy?

14. Irwin, his jealousy, his anger, Gerard persuading him to be quiet? His writing the essay, reading it out, the principal of the school and his reaction? Wanting a yes or no about whether it was true or not? Irwin keeping silent?

15. The media, making a show of Gerard and the other students, Irwin and his jealousy, the phone call to the journalist, publishing his essay, the various stances taken?

16. The principal, the authorities coming, the interview with the students, with Gerard, his being stood down? Irwin and the bullying from the other students?

17. The interviews with each of the students? The arrest, the police and the interrogations? Persuading Dominik, using his religious background?

18. The aftermath, the role of the media, the expose, the celebration and then turning on the students? The information about the various studies and careers of the students?

19. Audiences’ interest in education, the students, the issue of cheating – and the challenge to the attitudes of the audience about cheating?