DVD Releases - Learning Lessons

Life is about learning and growing. The DVD releases following the ides of April are thematically conceived from one’s growing pains and how realities tend to shift over the course of time.

Forrest Whitaker won an Oscar for his starring role as the Last King of Scotland which bears very little to the Tartan families. It takes place in the African country of Uganda, for one thing. It is the story of a Scottish doctor who comes to Uganda to help treat the sick. He is befriended by dictator Idi Amin and becomes one of his closest advisers. As he realizes that Amin’s behavior becomes erratic, the doctor tries to escape but the leader refuses to let him go. The doctor must learn how to win departure without falling victim to the despot.

Dame Judy Dench and Cate Blanchett costar in Notes on a Scandal where teacher (played by Blanchett) falls in love with one of her male high-school students. It’s a hot topic that seems to be penetrating the news more frequently. It provides a more intimate view of the struggles and contrasts of love, deceit, right and wrong as lessons of morality ring true.

Whereas Notes on a Scandal deals with the complications that arise between intimacy forming between a teacher and a student, History Boys deals with desire. Based on the critically acclaimed Tony Award winning play, History Boys revolves around a formal British academy where boys are transformed to men. Amidst rigorous tutelage and difficult exams as preparation to prestigious universities, one male teacher very much admires one of his star pupils. Through all the antics that spring forth among students and their struggle with teachers, there is an underlying homosexual tension that may or may not be requited.

Not all teachers, however, find themselves in intimate desire with their students. Some struggle through learning how to teach poor kids the values of learning. In Freedom Writers, Hillary Swank stars as a young teacher in an inner-city school caught within local gang wars. Here students were rebels in and out of school. How was this teacher going to help bring out their potential?

Life’s lessons grow lighter yet still poignant as Happy Days - The Second Season is released. Starring Ron Howard and Henry Winkler, this TV comedy series recreated the lives, struggles, and desires of adolescents growing up in the late 1950’s. The show was extremely popular when it was broadcast in 1974 and enforced a nostalgic dream back to a period that was far more innocent and hopeful.

The Second Season of Mork & Mindy delivers even lighter and funnier lessons as Robin Williams stars as a visitor from another planet. This series spin-off of Happy Days aired in the late 1970’s and introduced the world to the rocket-fire wit of Williams who later starred in dozens of movies including, recently released, Man of the Year, a witty and thrilling film where a comic become President of the United States.

Film and theater reflect life and the choices that we make. Some succumb to conflicts while others triumphantly learn to fly above all obstacles. Throughout it all are lessons to be learned. What we do and where we go is how we shape our realities and future. And, following the USA tax deadline, it’s appropriate to start fresh and anew with these lessons that provoke and entertain.

Technorati Tags: Forrest Whitaker Last King of Scotland Idi Amin Judy Dench Cate Blanchett Notes on a Scandal History Boys Freedom Writers Hillary Swank Happy Days Ron Howard Henry Winkler Mork & Mindy Robin Williams