My Old School
By Kat Halstead,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Playful documentary has strong language, drinking, smoking.
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My Old School
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What's the Story?
In MY OLD SCHOOL, 16-year-old Brandon Lee enrolls in a Scottish school after the death of his mother abroad. He impresses teachers with knowledge well beyond his years and introduces students to music icons of the past, and nobody suspects the enormous secret that lies behind his unusual behavior. Through talking heads, animated reconstructions, and archive footage, this documentary reveals the unbelievable truth.
Is It Any Good?
There's an interesting relationship between reality and performance, and memory and truth, at the heart of this creative documentary by first-time filmmaker Jono McLeod. My Old School's writer and director is one of the students who went to school with the subject, which adds gravitas to a fascinating film about a man who pretended to be someone else, played by yet another person on-screen. Emmy-nominated actor Alan Cumming lip-synchs flawlessly to audio recordings of "Brandon" retelling his story, as classmates and teachers remember what they can and learn new information about the scandal that caused quite the stir in the Scottish city of Glasgow during the 1990s.
A nostalgic soundtrack is the fitting accompaniment to the simple, Daria-like animation of the era, maintaining a sense of playfulness and convivial disbelief as the truth unravels. The consistent inclusion of the interviewees as the story unfolds explores how this is as much about the school year that embraced "Brandon" as one of their own as it is about the curious character himself. Bringing together the then, the now, and the animated avatars helps position an array of experiences alongside the "facts" to create a production that feels at once intimate, shocking, and endlessly fascinating.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the actions of the main character in My Old School. What were the ethical implications? What were the repercussions for him and others? Why do you think he behaved the way he did?
Discuss the documentary's mix of interviews, animation, lip synching, and archive footage. Why do you think the filmmakers decided on this format? What impact did it have on your viewing experience?
Talk about some of the language used. Did it seem necessary, or excessive? What did it contribute to the movie?
How were drinking and smoking depicted? Were they glamorized? Did the underage characters need to do these things to look cool? What were the consequences?
Movie Details
- In theaters: July 22, 2022
- Cast: Alan Cumming , Lulu , Dawn Steele
- Director: Jono McLeod
- Inclusion Information: Bisexual actors, Female actors
- Studio: Magnolia Pictures
- Genre: Documentary
- Topics: Friendship , High School
- Run time: 104 minutes
- MPAA rating: NR
- Last updated: March 4, 2024
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