A Story of Inspiration

Rating: 7/10 (11 April 2015)

English teacher John Keating (Robin Williams) inspires his students to discover their love for poetry and seize the day.
This is a story about what one teacher (or a mentor of any kind) can do to inspire the youth, whether it be for good or evil. Those viewing this film will generally see it as a force for good, a call to "seize the day". And that is probably the correct interpretation.
But interestingly, the call for non-conformity leads to its own kind of conformity. And one could argue that Keating's power is not much different than that of a politician or cult leader. Had he chosen to use it differently, he could have been a very dangerous force in these young men's lives. In fact, we see not everyone who followed his path was better because of it.