Everyone remembers one teacher who altered the course of their life. In Peter Weir’s Dead Poets Society (1989), one private school teacher paves the way for an inspiring, emotional coming-of-age film set in late 1950s New England.
Nothing beats a healthy dose of rebellion amid the rigid structure and rules of an all-boys prep school. Robin Williams portrays John Keating, the English teacher who shows his Welton Academy students that learning doesn’t have to happen exclusively in books. In fact, sometimes it’s appropriate to rip pages out of them.
DEAD POETS SOCIETY
What’s it rated? PG
When? 1989
Where’s it showing? The Palm Theatre, Nov. 16 at 7 p.m.
You can’t look away from Robert Sean Leonard’s performance as Neil Perry, a brilliant student who’s desperate to pursue the art of acting. The character helps the film pose one of its main conflicts: How are young adults supposed to balance self-expression and independence with external expectations? We see characters trying to figure themselves out, still under the influence of parents, authority figures, and peers.
Cinematography by John Seale, music by Maurice Jarre, and writing by Tom Schulman make for a satisfying watch, perfectly fit for a night at The Palm as the weather cools down. (128 min.) ∆
This article appears in Nov 12-19, 2026.
