Director: Lewis Gilbert
Starring: Julie Walters, Michael Caine and Michael Williams
‘A Meaningful Masterpiece’
Not many actresses in Hollywood have built a legacy as strong as Julie Walters. Ever since her rise to recognition in the 1980’s, Walters has become a beloved icon. Whether it’s bold mothers, magical teachers or larger than life teachers, Walters has portrayed many strong characters. Arguably, Walters’ finest strength as an actress has always been her powerful commitment to her craft. She is one of those rare actresses that has always had a talent for stealing the show in supporting roles that have limited screen time. Even when she isn’t often the main focus of a movie, Walters has always left a strong impression. Through her abilities to portray characters which prove compelling, Walters has built a strong legacy that’s lasting. Although she is most renowned for her role in the Harry Potter franchise, Walters has proven she can excel in every genre. Throughout her enduring career, Walters has made countless movies which are definitely worth taking about without a doubt.
I’m a huge fan of the actress and adore all the movies she has made in her career. However, “Educating Rita” is my favourite. Released in 1983, Lewis Gilbert’s movie offered a powerful portrait of inspirational teachers. Packed with breathtaking production, engaging storytelling and phenomenal acting, it’s one of the finest movies ever made about education. At centre of it all is an extraordinary performance from Julie Walters, who embodies a female student developing a powerful bond with her professor. Ultimately, what truly makes “Educating Rita” a classic film is universal appeal. Unlike most movies made during the 1980’s which tend to be outdated, it has aged beautifully. A riveting masterpiece about educating, there are many strong reasons why “Educating Rita” is a film worth seeing.
“Educating Rita” tells a story of a woman that forms a powerful bond with a teacher that has charisma. Julie Walters portrays Rita, a sharp hairdresser seeking to discover identity. Rita is a curious woman that has often sought to earn education. Rita’s dreams come true when she is taught lessons by a professor at a university. Dr. Frank Bryant (Michael Caine) is a professor that has often excelled at teaching his closest students on literature. Rita and Frank develop a bond with each other discovering they have more in common than they thought. However, Rita’s life changes when she discovers issues faced by her professor. As she is made aware of issues Frank is facing causing tension, Rita soon wonders whether it’s truly possible for her to achieve education.
Lewis Gilbert is a newcomer towards themes of education. Before he directed “Educating Rita”, Gilbert had never made a movie about education before. A strong filmmaker, Gilbert was well-known for his James Bond movies. With “Educating Rita”, however, Gilbert made his first education drama. It was the director’s first attempt to capture the lives of professors with authority but he succeeded tremendously. Using strong cinematography, Gilbert captures a woman seeking education from a professor with authority. Inspired by Peter Weir’s “Dead Poets Society”, Gilbert expertly uses montages to capture the strong bonds between teachers and students in a secret society. For instance, montages elevate the classroom lesson scene. During this unforgettable scene, Rita receives her first lesson from Dr. Bryant in a university. Through stunning montages, Gilbert captures tensions that women seeking an education are facing. Montages are tricky techniques to use in films. As Phyllida Loyd’s “Mamma Mia!” did demonstrate that montages elevate Broadway musicals. Nevertheless, it works immensely in this movie. Through captivating visuals, Gilbert captures tension which commemorated women seeking proper education are facing.
Another admirable aspect of “Educating Rita” that merits appreciation is production. From a technical perspective, the movie is extremely well made. Gilbert’s decisions to shoot the film in real-life universities is often risky but it pays off tremendously. For instance, the location of the university location enhances the lecturing scene. During this heartfelt scene, Dr. Bryant delivers a strong lecture towards students on the topic of literature. Through using real-life locations of university, Gilbert crafts a portrait of education that’s compelling. Moreover, the musical score is magnificent. It gives the film a tense atmosphere capturing the heavy burden teachers in universities always bear. Through strong production, Gilbert captures professors working hard to prove students with a valuable education.
Storytelling is one of the central reasons why “Educating Rita” is a film about education that is compelling. The movie is beautifully written, and effectively uses silence to capture strong bonds among a student and professor. Taking inspiration from Mike Nichols’ “The Graduate”, Gilbert effectively uses silence to capture the strong bonds between teachers and students. For instance, the silence elevates the farewell scene. During this unforgettable scene, Frank bids tearful farewell to Rita after their sessions come to a conclusion. Through silence, Gilbert created a portrait of professors that audiences could relate to. Silence is a tricky technique to use in movies. As Julian Jarrold’s “Becoming Jane” demonstrated, silence enhances biopics about famous authors. Nevertheless, it works immensely in this film. Through a spectacular screenplay, Gilbert honours teachers that play pivotal roles in changing the way that schools are run today.
One appreciates amazing performances.
Julie Walters delivers one of her best career performances as Rita. Walters first achieved appreciation for playing magical mothers in fantasy films. With “Educating Rita”, however, she took on her most emotional role. It isn’t easy to portray a woman seeking education in a university but she succeeded tremendously. This is the actress unlike you have ever seen her before: intense, charismatic and emotional in her most memorable role. Walters has often excelled at playing emotional women that are under stress, and “Educating Rita” showcased her strengths as an actress. With spellbinding expressions, she embodies a woman seeking to pursue education. It’s a terrific performance from one of the most celebrated actresses in Britain today.
Michael Caine is marvellous as an esteemed professor using his education as way to cope with pain. Caine has often excelled at playing heroes under pressure, and “Educating Rita” showcased his greatest strength as an actor. Whether he’s delivers an important lecture to his students which are inspiring or striving to provide educating, Caine effectively employs his strong body language to create a portrait of teachers that’s compelling. It’s a powerful performance from one of the most celebrated actors which is currently working in modern Britain today.
Finally, “Educating Rita” would earn praise of everyone for capturing professors enduring a dilemma. Unlike most movies about education, it tackles strong themes that everyone would relate to. It discusses strong themes including identity, mental health and trauma which will resonate with everyone. Despite its focus on the lives of teachers in the 1980’s, the movie’s themes are relevant today. It delivers a bold message about childhood trauma which will definitely resonate with everyone. Therefore, “Educating Rita” is one of those rare movies about education everyone would absolutely adore.
Fans of Julie Walters would definitely adore “Educating Rita” and so would movie-goers seeking exhilarating entertainment. A riveting masterpiece about education, it honours an actress that deserves recognition.
Nearly 40 years following the release of a groundbreaking film about women seeking an education from professors that are inspiring, it’s a riveting reminder about a commemorated actress that has built a lasting legacy earning a massive following for her abilities to portray compelling characters in memorable movies which are worth celebrating.
5/5 stars
The Film Buff 