MR HOLLAND'S OPUS

US, 1995, 143 minutes, Colour.
Richard Dreyfuss, Glenne Headley, Olympia Dukakis, William H.Macy, Alicia Witt.
Directed by Stephen Herek.

A film that any audience can go to comfortably and thoroughly enjoy. It's about a teacher. We know Mr Chips. We remember Robin Williams as Mr Keating in Dead Poets Society. And now we have music teacher, Mr Holland. This film is a bit sharper than its predecessors. Mr Holland does not work miracles overnight. He sees his job as temporary - but it becomes his life. The film opens in 1965 and ends in the 90s. Richard Dreyfuss gives a wonderful performance as Mr Holland and is supported by Glenne Headley as his wife. The film not only shows us values in education but also has a lot to offer on family relationships and tensions for a teacher between students and family, especially attention to his own son.

The film is long but you won't notice the time. And there is a range of music from Bach to Gershwin.

1.A piece of Americana? American education in the 20th century? Family life and values? A variation on It's a Wonderful Life?

2.The 30-year period, Mr Holland and his home and family, the town, the school? The collages summarising the '60s, '70s, '80s?

3.The title, Mr Holland as a composer, his music, his teaching and the students being his opus, his son?

4.The significance of the music and its insertion throughout the film? From Bach to Beethoven, Gershwin and rock and roll?

5.The reinterpretation of the meaning of one's life? It's a Wonderful Life and the final tribute being a chance for Mr Holland to assess his life and what if...?

6.The tradition of films about teachers? Goodbye Mr Chips and Goodbye Mr Holland? The tribute to and achievement of teachers?

7.The film having an edge with Cole being deaf? The parallel with Beethoven, unable to hear the music? But Glen Holland having to learn how his son could appreciate and know about music?

8.Glen and Iris, playing at weddings etc., Iris the photographer? Marriage, going into teaching, hoping to get enough money to be able to compose? The opening and his getting up in the morning, going to school, lost, the encounter with Mrs Jacobs and her tough attitudes? Wolters and his rigidity, discipline (making the girls kneel with their short skirts)? His going into class, wanting the definition of music? The bored students, his anger over their poor tests, their poor playing in the orchestra? Gertrude and her discussions, her poor playing, his coaching her?

9.The growing frustration in teaching, the demands of the timetable, Mrs Jacobs accusing him of not giving his full time to the students? His realisation that they should have fun with their music, his change, playing Bach, playing rock and roll? The experience of music? Wolters and his denouncing rock and roll? Gertrude and her improvement? Russ and his being on the sports team, wrestling, the chance to have special coaching, learning to play the drums - and the great difficulty in getting a sense of rhythm?

10.Bill, sports, his friendship with Glen, meals in the canteen, playing chess? Persuading him to give Russ a chance? The parade? The sadness of Vietnam, Russ's death and the funeral?

11.Iris announcing her pregnancy and Glen's bad reaction? Her grief? The pregnancy, the build-up to the birth and the mad drive to the hospital? Iris's discovery that Cole was deaf during the parade? Her reaction? Glen and his giving the class on Beethoven and his deafness? Going to the expert and his advising for them to have a 'normal' life and interaction with Cole? Iris and her desperation, Cole and his frustration, her wanting to communicate with her son? Going to the school, learning to sign and communicate? Her communication with him at home? Glen not facing up to the reality, trying to ignore it and avoid it? Not learning sign language properly, having to go slow, Iris having to translate? The build-up to the ultimate confrontation about John Lennon?

12.The '80s, the Gershwin evening? Rowena, her skill, the humour of the auditions? Rowena and the advice given by Glen, her temptation for him to leave, go to New York, to compose? Listening to his music? His decisions, not going to New York, staying with Iris and the family?

13.The confrontation with Cole at John Lennon's death, presuming that he was ignorant, his son's firm reaction? Learning how to play music for the deaf, the use of lights? His singing 'Beautiful Boy' and dedicating it to his son?

14.Mrs Jacobs, her support of Glen, her favourite teacher, her retirement? Wolters, the principal, his cuts, the interview with Glen, Glen and his hearing at the board, attacking the board (even his former students)? The discussion with Bill? Thirty years of giving his life?

15.Iris and Glen and their relationship, their love, ups and downs, the crisis with their son, Iris and her love for her boy? Glen and his having to learn it?

16.The build-up to the finale, Gertrude as Governor, the playing of his symphony, Iris and Cole welcoming him? Better than riches and fame? Touching the lives of everyone there for the better? "We are your symphony, the music of your life"?

17.Themes of teaching, education? The students as the opus of the teacher? Especially issues of the arts, the basics of education but having something to think, read and write about?

18.Issues of hearing impairment, communication with the deaf? In the context of family and relationships?