Brilliant tribute to unsung heroes...one music teacher's impact

Rating: 9/10 (25 April 2006)

A masterful tribute to music teachers. My own son, now a college freshman, played in the school band for seven years (through both middle and high school), so our household had first hand experience with a dedicated music teacher and could relate well to Mr. Holland's contribution.
Richard Dreyfuss is brilliant as the would be composer, Mr. Holland, who must reluctantly resort to teaching in order to support himself and his pregnant wife. As the film chronicles for close to three decades, we witness Mr. Holland's aging (effectively done), the changing styles, fads, and current issues of high school students, the growing up of his deaf son, and most of all, the emergence and development of Mr. Holland's teaching skills and the impact they have on the lives of his students, both musically and personally.
Mr. Holland has a tremendous effect on his students, to name a few...a timid clarinet player with low self esteem who eventually becomes state governor, a wrestler transformed (after much effort) into a drummer who is later killed in Vietnam, and a talented singer who ends up heading for Broadway. These instances may remind many viewers of that 'special teacher' in their own lives, whatever the subject. I agree with another reviewer that even for those such as the clarinet playing governor, who don't pursue music as a career, having musical training during childhood & adolescence makes for a lifelong enriching experience. People are not one dimensional, with their job the only significant factor in their lives.
The afore mentioned singer, Rowena, who has a serious crush on her teacher & mentor, brings one of the more interesting sub-plot lines to the story as Mr. Holland (experiencing some marital difficulties and despairing the lack of composition success he's dreamed of) is tempted to join her when she departs for the Big Apple. I thought the scene extremely moving when his wife discovers from the musical program that this lovely, talented young student is the mysterious 'Rowena' of her husband's composition and suspects (fears) a romantic interest. Also, Mr. Holland's viewing of his family's photo album is dramatic under these circumstances of temptation. How refreshing (for once, in Hollywood) that our hero 'does the right thing'. I admit to being disappointed that an older Rowena doesn't reappear at the end concert as a famous Broadway star. The two of them could have had an interesting moment there, and I was waiting for it.
The depiction of the parents' struggles with Mr. Holland's deaf son, Cole (especially given the father's musical career), is effectively done and gives us all a better appreciation of obstacles faced by those with disabilities and their families.
The funding dilemmas for academics, arts, & athletics in the school system are always relevant. Band has recently been cut in my own son's former high school, a tragedy. I wish Mr. Holland's music program could have been re-instated. As one commenter noted, pity his former students couldn't have had a fund-raiser or mass protest to officialdom so that their children would not be denied the musical opportunities they themselves experienced.
As for the end concert, it's dramatic beyond words and must have given Mr. Holland the real definition of success. This scene certainly came to mind a couple of years back when I attended a retirement banquet for my own son's middle school music teacher, with entertainment provided by a band consisting of both present and former students. There are many Mr. Hollands out there in the school system today, and they especially must be gratified by this recognition of their generally unheralded efforts.