Revisiting of an old classic movie “ To sir with love "

I had the chance the other day to watch an old classic “ To sir with love “. The movie was made in 1967 and it was a great hit at that time and a movie for all generations to come subsequently. It is based on an autobiographical novel by E. R. Braithwaite in 1959.

It is starring the handsome Sidney Poitier , who has given a poignant performance. When the movie ends , we feel like we did not have enough of him.

The story is about how an engineer trainee who is on the lookout for a job related to his skill , decides to take up a temporary assignment of teaching high school students to fill up the gap until he lands a job of his liking. He is new to the teaching profession.

He takes up an assignment of teaching high school students from the slum areas of London.

The students are an unruly lot who bad mouth , dress shabbily , can’t read a proper sentence in English . They have been successful in ensuring that no teacher stays there for a long time. If any one stays back , they have to toe their line.

The film is about how the new teacher is able to bring about a change in the attitude of the students. He does not treat them like kids but like adults. He is aware of their troubled backgrounds and that they come from disturbed families. For him their well being and their future is most important than any other consideration. He is able to swallow the hurt and his pride when the students ill treat him in the beginning. For him their transformation is the ultimate goal.

The movie is very touching in the sense that how an idealistic teacher without any experience can bring about a change in the heart. It depicts very clearly that irrespective of the background they come from , violent students can be changed and nurtured into becoming a responsible and matured adults by appealing to the time tested instincts of love , understanding , compassion , discipline and firmness in dealing with unaccepted behavior.

The director has crafted a great movie and he has dealt the social and racial issues in a school in a very deft and able manner.

Hope our present generation of movie makers take a leaf out of this movie on how to make a socially relevant movie which can appeal to all sections of the society .