The Emperor’s Club (2002)

Based on Ethan Canin’s short story The Palace Thief, the Emperor’s Club traces the 30-year teacher-student mentor relationship between a dedicated prep school teacher (Kevin Kline) and a troubled young man (Emile Hirsch; Joel Gretsch plays him as an adult) who lives in the shadow of his senator father. Rob Morrow and Embeth Davidtz co-star.

So far, perhaps the strongest argument for classical teaching in this list, along side “Man Without a Face” and perhaps “Mr. Chips.” Kline is not as strong an actor as I would have cast for this role, but he did not get in the way of the work. The message regarding honor, a very important notion in education alone, makes this film important, but the methods and demeanor employed move this on up the ladder of success as a teaching movie. I had to cheer for the love interest story centered around great literature even though the morality of the relationship was strained at points. I will probably add to this review once I see it for a second or third time.

~ by u2isgr8 on November 28, 2005.