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WHAT
IS A GOOD TEACHER (2000)
A.K.A.
- What Is A Good Teacher?
Reviewed
by Andrew Saroch
For
his second film as director, Francis Ng tackles the oft-told
story of a teacher who ultimately acts as an inspiration for
his unruly class. However, this is no 'Goodbye Mr. Chips' - in
fact, despite a realistic directorial style, it is never close
to answering the question of the title.
Arriving
in a troubled Hong Kong school where apathy has eaten away at
educators and pupils alike, new supply teacher Kong (Ng) is
eager to make an impression. The sensitive, quiet newcomer has
a rude awakening, though, when he realises how little he
really knows the youth of today. After a minor breakdown, Kong
decides to fully immerse himself in the youth culture scene
he's desperate to reach out to and lets the pupils decide the
cpntent of the classes. While the other teachers have lost the
desire to teach those who don't want to be taught, Kong
manages to talk to the youngsters as an equal. Meanwhile
Kong's past troubles seem intent on haunting him, especially
when one of the students uncovers his health records.
The
one encouraging thing that can be said of 'What Is A Good
Teacher' is that, in his second film as director, Francis Ng
never resorts to the kind of cheap trickery that many new
film-makers cling hopelessly to. Ng relies on a grittier style
of filming that is more akin to a poor man's Mike Leigh than
any of the current crop of Wong Kar Wei wannabes. Utilising
the ever reliable 'steadycam' shots, Ng creates an atmosphere
within the classroom that feels more earthy than many similar
productions.
Having
given a modicum of praise where it's due, it's unfortunate to
now point to exactly what's wrong about 'What Is A Good
Teacher' as this is the majority of the film content. What
initially sounds like an interesting study of not only ignored
youth, but also mental illness is quickly turned into an
episodic drama without substance. Kong is a man who has
recently recovered from mental illness and who wants to be
valuable to others, but he is so awkwardly written that any examination
of the issue is quickly discarded. Mental illness is a subject
that few directors have managed to film with empathy and
subtlety; Francis Ng can now join the long list of film-makers
who have failed to fully understand the subject.
While
it might be argued that 'What Is A Good Teacher' is not
intended as an examination of mental health, the handling of
the other subjects is equally slipshod. The idea of a teacher
employing quirky methods to get to know his pupils is a cliché
that Ng uses without really explaining how it works. Kong
dresses in hip hop clothes, fights for better food and goes to
parties with the youths, but such extreme behaviour would
normally elicit more mockery than anything else in any school
I attended. It's hard to believe that such empty gestures
would turn bored students into reactionary youths.
Though
Kong is a poorly written character, it should be expected that
the students would fare better. Sadly they are mostly faceless
stereotypes with tired attempts to explain away their quirks
and attitudes. 'What Is A Good Teacher' never overcomes this
problem and, despite the odd moment of interest (Anthony Wong
catching his students cheating is a rare highlight) drags
itself to the end of the 90 minute duration. The on-screen
apathy is the one thing that translates: after thirty minutes
the same mood takes over the viewer.
Rating:
  
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