The Hobart Shakespeareans
 | Directed by Mel Stuart Starring: Ian McKellen, Michael York New Video Group, 2005, DVD Customer Rating: 23 reviews Recommend |
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THE HOBART SHAKESPEAREANS is a delightful profile of one phenomenal teacher and his eager students who together touchingly demonstrate the power of education. What happens in Rafe Esquith s classroom defies the odds. With genuine passion and ironclad conviction Esquith turns the Asian-American and Latino children of a violence-stricken central Los Angeles neighborhood on to the wonders of Shakespeare Mark Twain and mathematics. The Hobart Boulevard Elementary fifth-graders respond heartily rattling off the names of Shakespeare s thirty-seven plays or doing rapid-fire arithmetic in their heads. The children are refreshingly engaged as Esquith takes them to Washington D.C. to visit national monuments leads them on tours of college campuses and implores them to work hard and believe in their own self-worth. At the end of the semester they pull together — with a little help from famous actors Ian McKellen and Michael York — their final triumph: a student production of Hamlet. Through tears and laughter this endearing troupe casts aside the conventional wisdom about the failures of education in the United States. Academy Award-nominated director Mel Stuart deftly probes the secrets of Esquith s winning strategy in a story as inspiring and rewarding as it is exceptional. DVD Features: Filmmaker Interview; Filmmaker Biography; Interactive Menus; Scene Selection Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: DRAMA UPC: 767685976234 Manufacturer No: NVG-9762
Title: The Hobart Shakespeareans
Sales Rank: 17671 in DVD
Actor: Ian McKellen, Michael York
Director: Mel Stuart
Studio: New Video Group, 2006-02-28, Theatrical Release: 2005-09-06
Format: Color, DVD-Video, NTSC, Acpect Ratio 1.33:1
Languages: English (Original Language)
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Region Code: 1
Running Time: 52 minutes
Item Dimensions: 0.3 pounds
Package Dimensions: 7.1 x 5.42 x 0.58 inches, 0.18 pounds
- In the pursuit of excellence, wonderful things can happen
- Director Mel Stuart has given us a wonderfully observed year in the life of a fifth grade class. Their teacher, Rafe Esquith, has challenged the students to pursue excellence in whatever they do. And one of the many ways they do this is by learning and staging one of Shakespeare's plays. In this year it is "Hamlet." But this is not a "Hey, kids, let's put on a show"… More reviews
- Inspirational
- I found this video to be very inspirational as far as teaching. This is a teacher we all want to be, and want our children to have. I thought this video would have more practical information about how to get kids to perform Shakespeare but, oh well, inspiration counts for alot!! I would recommend this video to teachers of all grade levels, even if they've never in a million years… More reviews
- Much ado about Rafe and the Hobart Shakespeareans
- I've read both of Rafe Esquith's books There are no shortcuts and Teach like your hair is on fire. I was excited to find out that there was also a documentary out on him and his teaching methods and determination entitled "The Hobart Shakespeareans." Upon seeing his teaching style up close, I continue to be awed by this teacher who works 12+ hour… More reviews
- Inspiring, moving
- If only we had more teachers like this truly dedicated man. He has rejected many offers of a "better" position to stay in his same role at the Hobart school teaching 9- and 10-year-olds from a poor district in LA. In the year that was filmed, the kids work up and put on a performance of Hamlet - and these are kids who, when Rafe visited their… More reviews
- Great DVD
- I'm glad someone made this on such a great educator. He is very inspirational and I like to read about teachers who really care about their students and the educational process. I hope more get to see this DVD or read his books.… More reviews
