THE EMPEROR'S CLUB

US, 2002, 115 minutes, Colour.
Kevin Kline, Emile Mersch, Joel Gretsch, Steven Culp, Patrick Dempsey, Embeth Davidtz, Edward Herrmann, Rob Morrow, Harris Yulin.
Directed by Michael Hoffman.

Every reviewer of The Emperor's Club is going to mention Dead Poets Society and make comparisons. So, I have done the same. The similarity is the setting in an ivy league high school where a teacher, dedicated to his students and his subject, transforms some of the boys. Dead Poets was set in the late 50s. Emperor's Club is set in the mid-70s and finishes in the present. While Robin Williams made an impression in the former, it is Kevin Kline who is the dedicated teacher in the present film.

One of the difficulties for many audiences in watching this story of educational privilege is that most of us don't have this kind of experience. It is elitist. Expectations are that students with moneyed and professional backgrounds are the sole beneficiaries of this kind of education. Many of the students then assume that they are superior to others, take their privilege for granted. It is to the credit of The Emperor's Club that just when one might be exasperated by the behaviour of the students and the deferential treatment by headmaster and staff, the screenplay offers a more critical look at these attitudes. Before the end, it seems to reverse its stance to indulge the privileged only for a further change of stance. A scene where the son of one of the students overhears a confrontation between his father and the teacher, voicing a complete cynicism that is, unfortunately, too true of pragmatic authority figures today. So, it is not as predictable as one might think as the film begins.

A significant quotation about this issue is that "Privilege demands integrity". In fact, this is what the film is about: how does the education presented here foster responsibility and integrity in students? The central group of students are intelligent but are under extraordinary pressure from their parents' expectations: academic and career success. One is the son of an ambitious senator who summons Kevin Kline to tell him that it is not the teachers who will 'mould' his son's character. That is something he will do - which means that his emotionally neglected son will take it for granted that everything should be his even if it means lying and cheating.

While Robin Williams taught English Literature in Dead Poets, Kevin Kline's subject is much more esoteric, Ancient Greek and Roman History. It is difficult to see how the multiplex audience will respond eagerly to the classes, the classic references and the school's speciality, a competition in writing and a public quiz for the title of Mr Julius Caesar. The dramatic and emotional climax of the film is a replay of the competition in the present, the class of 1976 reuniting with their teacher to test who should be the winner.

Otherwise, the film is in the Mr Chips' vein, a teacher who is not always popular but who wins the loyalty of his students, who is passed over for leadership in the school but who gives his life completely for his students.

1. The audience for this kind of film, school, teaching, morals, values? Its lack of box office success in the United States?

2. The themes of no conquest without contribution, a person's end is in their beginning, character determines fate?
3. The setting of the 70s and the beginning of the 21st century? The school, the luxurious resort on Long Island? The detailed attention to costumes and décor for each period? The musical score and its mood?

4. The title, the focus on the classics, formation in the classics? Training, education? The US having its own senate? The contribution of Greek and Latin wisdom, history, experience? The classes on the classics and western civilisation? The plaque above the door with the focus on the barbarian who conquered but who was not remembered? The importance of the Mr Julius Caesar competition and its status within the school, for the alumni, for parents and fundraising?

5. The film as a memoir of William Hundert, Kevin Kline's presence and interpretation of the role? The opening, his age, arriving at the resort, the hotel and the greetings, the service and respect, his expectations? The flashback and his memory of Sedgwick Bell and the group of students?

6. Hundert's character, seeing him prepare the class in the classroom, his routine for teaching, getting the names, asking the questions, the student reading from the plaque? The student response? His supervision of the dormitories? Meeting Louis on the path and getting him to walk on the path, hearing his imitation of him? His friendship with Martin Blythe, the shy young man, his father being Mr Julius Caesar? The sequence with the baseball hit, the headmaster's car, running and looking out the window with the students? The students who went over to the girls' school, his reprimands, their not having any dinner? The arrival of Sedgwick Bell, the stand-off, the conflict, getting him to sit down, Bell's mockery of Shakespeare? Bell getting the students to bang their books together to distract him with the chalk, his eyeballing Sedgwick Bell in the classroom? A challenge? Sedgwick Bell becoming the focus of his work?

7. The single man, his love for his colleague, talking with her in the staff room, her gift from the Parthenon, his dismay at her going to England? Her personality, friendship with William, her marriage, going to England, her husband's promotion? Her return, the divorce? Her marrying William? Their ageing together, watching him at his desk, his mental block, her sympathy and love?

8. The portrait of the boys: Louis Masudy, eager, the incident on the path, imitating Hundert, looking at the magazines, laughing, on for a dare, trying to speak to Bell about not hitting the ball on the wall, going on the boat, the encounter with the girls, the giggles in Mr Hundert's room? His skill in the Mr Julius Caesar competition, his going out first? Deepak Mehta, serious, reading about Hamilcar Barca, his parents, sharing the experience of the magazines, the boat, the reprimands? His success in the Mr Julius Caesar competition? Martin, the pressure of his father, serious, urging the students to turn back, not looking at the magazines, his losing out and penalised by Hundert?

9. Sedgwick, his arrival, age, experience, attention-seeking, ignored by his father? His pranks in class, confronting Hundert? Borrowing the book from the library and Mr Hundert going guarantee, Hundert lending him the book (and his returning it many years later)? Writing his essays, his leadership of the group, the magazines, the boat ride, the possible swimming? The reprimands? Mr Hundert's support, the possibility of a change? The build-up to Mr Julius Caesar, his cheating, Hundert seeing this, asking him the question about Hamilcar Barca? His father present, disgusted at his loss? His father's phone call and his abruptness? His father wanting to mould him? His collapsing in the school, wasting his years?

10. Hundert's visit to the senator, the senator's treatment of him, offering him the gift of the gun, the discussion about the relevance of the classics, the conflict about who would mould Sedgwick's character? The senator's visit to the Mr Julius Caesar competition and his despising his son? His abrupt phone call to him?

11. The competition, the fanfare in the school, the essays, the dressing up in togas, the questions, the parents and the support, the students clapping? Sedgwick cheating, Hundert speaking to the headmaster, his being advised to ignore it? The honour of the school and Hundert asking him the question he couldn't answer? Discussing it with the ambitious lecturer?

12. Hundert and the lecturer, giving him the gift of the book, his plan, popularity? Giving Sedgwick Bell the A-plus and the moral dilemma for him? His later not getting the headmastership, his expectations, support of his wife?

13. The headmaster, the honour of the school, his speeches, the baseball hitting the car, twenty-five years of service, his attitudes towards the cheating? The board meeting and the manner of Handling (**??) not giving the headmastership to Hundert? Giving it to the ambitious lecturer, the financial and public relations reasons?

14. Hundert offering his resignation, his retirement, wanting to write, the mental block, looking out the window, support of his wife?

15. The invitation to come to the resort, the Mr Julius Caesar competition repeated, meeting the families, the enjoyment of the holiday at the resort?

16. His talking with Sedgwick Bell, disclosing the truth about his own father and lack of relationship? Sedgwick wanting to become a senator? His honest talking with Mr Hundert, memories of the past, his own assessment of his schooldays? The competition, his cheating again, Mr Hundert asking him the question about the plaque, his adviser not being able to find the answer? Hundert in the toilet and commenting on the hearing aid? Sedgwick's speech, cheating, ambitious, lack of principle? His son overhearing him? His repeating his public image and principles for the television with his wife?

17. The other men returning, Deepak Mahta still the champion, Louis Masudy and his fooling around, Martin Blythe, sincerity, hearing the truth about his possibilities, the breakfast and the tribute to Mr Hundert? Martin Blythe's son coming to class?

18. The effect of this weekend, his return to school, the different school in the 21st century, boys and girls, mixed-race? Martin Blythe's son? The theme of recognising one's gifts, telling the truth, living one's life with integrity?