Animated versions of underage characters are shown drinking alcohol on a number of occasions, including wine, cocktails, and beer. Animated characters are also shown smoking cigarettes. Passing mention of drugs.
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A fatal car crash is shown in animation. Death of mother, father, and grandmother are mentioned; animated scenes shown at a graveyard. Fleeting hospital scenes in both live action and animation, but no surgery shown. Passing reference to Hitler and the Nazi salute. Mention of suicide and cancer. Animated scenes of physical and verbal bullying. Reference to actor Brandon Lee being shot dead on the set of The Crow.
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Bands mentioned and record sleeves and posters shown.
Positive Messages
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People are not always what they seem. Sometimes bad behavior goes officially unpunished. But the truth will always catch up with you.
Diverse Representations
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While main subject is a White male, there is diversity among classmates -- different genders and ethnicities represented in both interviews and animated characters. Passing mention of racism and hate mail received by a student.
The main subject of the documentary creates a false identity, manipulates teachers and students, attempts to lie his way into medical school. His selfish actions upset some and lead to inappropriate situations, though appear to help others both socially and academically.
Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that My Old School is an astonishing British documentary about a student in the 1990s whose identity was later revealed to be wildly different from the one he portrayed. It is told via a mixture of interviews with students and teachers, fun animated reconstructions, and archive footage. Underage drinking and smoking are shown in animated sequences, and strong language includes "f--k," "s--t," and "motherf----r." There are some sexual references, and a kiss is shown in archive footage between a 32-year-old man and a 16-year-old girl. An animated car crash is shown and the death of parents and grandparents is mentioned. The film is mostly told via fun, upbeat talking heads and animated sequences, and proves a fascinating retelling of an infamous event that will likely appeal to teens and adults alike. To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly Family Movie Night emails.
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What's the Story?
In MY OLD SCHOOL, 16-year-old Brandon Lee enrolls in a Scottish school after the death of his mother abroad. He impresses teachers with knowledge well beyond his years and introduces students to music icons of the past, and nobody suspects the enormous secret that lies behind his unusual behavior. Through talking heads, animated reconstructions, and archive footage, this documentary reveals the unbelievable truth.
There's an interesting relationship between reality and performance, and memory and truth, at the heart of this creative documentary by first-time filmmaker Jono McLeod. My Old School's writer and director is one of the students who went to school with the subject, which adds gravitas to a fascinating film about a man who pretended to be someone else, played by yet another person on-screen. Emmy-nominated actor Alan Cumming lip-synchs flawlessly to audio recordings of "Brandon" retelling his story, as classmates and teachers remember what they can and learn new information about the scandal that caused quite the stir in the Scottish city of Glasgow during the 1990s.
A nostalgic soundtrack is the fitting accompaniment to the simple, Daria-like animation of the era, maintaining a sense of playfulness and convivial disbelief as the truth unravels. The consistent inclusion of the interviewees as the story unfolds explores how this is as much about the school year that embraced "Brandon" as one of their own as it is about the curious character himself. Bringing together the then, the now, and the animated avatars helps position an array of experiences alongside the "facts" to create a production that feels at once intimate, shocking, and endlessly fascinating.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the actions of the main character in My Old School. What were the ethical implications? What were the repercussions for him and others? Why do you think he behaved the way he did?
Discuss the documentary's mix of interviews, animation, lip synching, and archive footage. Why do you think the filmmakers decided on this format? What impact did it have on your viewing experience?
Talk about some of the language used. Did it seem necessary, or excessive? What did it contribute to the movie?
How were drinking and smoking depicted? Were they glamorized? Did the underage characters need to do these things to look cool? What were the consequences?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
suggesting a diversity update.
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
By Kat Halstead
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
