Dead Poets Society

Simultaneously one of the most heart-warming and heart-wrenching films I have seen, Dead Poets Society is a film warm and comforting despite its fair share of sorrow. Perhaps most famously, you may know Robin Williams’ role as the living embodiment of what every human being should be – the endearing Professor Keating, made all the more admirable for his soulful speeches and cries of “Carpe Diem!” as he rouses his students to wrestle against existential constraints, familial expectation and societal tradition. At its crux, Dead Poets is full of heart, and – most crucially – hope. This is not to render it an ‘easy’ watch, but it is one, nonetheless, that is deeply worth your time. All the more stirring for its simplicity, the film celebrates life, freedom, friendship and literature, some of the most important things your soul really needs, and reignites your desire to get out there and truly “seize the day!”

Martha Gibbs

Maverick teacher John Keating uses poetry to embolden his boarding school students to new heights of self-expression.