Human spirit prevails over social status and class (Educating Rita (DVD))

Member Name: bruffyboy

Product:	Educating Rita (DVD)
Date:	11/11/08 (73 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Excellent acting by leads, authentic dialogue

Disadvantages: A little outdated for younger audiences

Frank (Michael Caine) is a disaffected, alcoholic, English lecturer at University. His relationship and career are falling apart around his ears, and he doesn't care. Enter Rita (Julie Walters), a passionate, head-strong working class hairdresser who wants to better herself through Frank's Open University teaching.

Set in the Thatcher era, Educating Rita is a touching, funny, and significant movie that challenges pre-conceived ideas of class. Based on the play by Willy Russell, the film is a success because of the journey both of the main characters go on. I don't want to give too much away, but I will say that both are able to learn something from each-other.

Of course, the film is powered by two premium actors, but the dialogue too is authentic and rich (Russell himself was a Liverpudlian hairdresser, and one gets the strong feeling that he writes from his own experience).

As a teacher, we study this in my inner city school, a testament to the invalidity of the boundaries of class and social status, and the power of the human spirit.

Summary: Anyone can do anything they choose, if only they pursue it with all their heart