Set in the 1980s in Sheffield, the film follows a group of boys who have achieved their schools highest A-Level results yet. In a bid to gain the school a better reputation, the headteacher (Clive Merrison) orders that they all spend the next term in school, studying the admissions test to Oxbridge. In addition to being taught by the strangely inspirational and loved Hector (Richard Griffiths), and the History teacher Mrs Lintott (Frances de la Tour), the headteacher hires a new teacher, Irwin (Stephen Campbell Moore) in order to invigorate the boys into passing their test.
Essentially, the film is a debate on teaching styles, on what history actually is, and on whether or not the truth is really what matters. Irwin teaches that it doesn't matter if something is factually accurate, so long as its interesting and makes you stand out from the other applicants, whereas Hector is appalled by this and instead wants the boys to receive a more rounded, 'old-school' education.
The other issue dealt with in the film is sexuality. Posner (Samuel Barnett) has an unrequited crush on Dakin (Dominic Cooper), who in turn, despite having a girlfriend (Georgia Taylor), finds himself becoming more and more attracted to Irwin. There is also the rather dubious issue of Hector's habit of fondling the boys when he offers to give them a lift home, which adds an extra dimension to the film when he is spotted by a lollipop lady who reports his behaviour.
To me, the film felt more like a television drama than something that could be watched in the cinema, it feels quite 'small', although this is probably a result of it having been adapted from a play, that would have most likely been all set in one place.
The film is a great ensemble effort, with all the performances being solid. Stephen Campbell Moore and Richard Griffiths both give great performances as men who are the total antithesis of each other; with Campbell Moore embodying the 'cool young teacher' role, whereas Griffiths is good as the eccentric and slightly morally skewed Hector. As for the students, Dominic Cooper gives a solid performance as the bundle of sexual-confidence that is Dakin, Russell Tovey brings a casual confidence to Rudge-a boy known more for his sporting achievements than his academic ones and Jamie Parker is good as the religious Scripps.
However, one performance stood out to me above all the others and that was that of Samuel Barnett as Posner. He played the role without letting it slip into stereotype. There were moments when the slightest little look could portray a bundle of emotions. One scene in particular, where it was just Posner and Hector on screen reading a poem (I cannot remember its name), but Hector reads a line about a hand reaching out, and when the camera pans back we see that Posner has edged his hand forward. It was just tiny details like that that made me really enjoy Barnett's performance; it was good to see that he received Olivier & Tony nominations, as well as Drama Desk & Whatsonstage Awards for his work on stage.
All in all, The History Boys is a quite enjoyable film, the results of which have remained in the back of my mind since I watched it. Think of it almost as an English Dead Poet's Society.
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