Join the ‘Club’ this weekend

If you are looking for a break from the holiday blockbusters, are

unmoved by the smorgasbord of wizards and hobbits, middle-aged

British spies, belated Santa Claus sequels and animated features, I

suggest seeking out the thoughtful drama “The Emperor’s Club.”

Previews of this film may suggest a careless retread of “Goodbye,

Mr. Chips.” It is undeniable that “Emperor’s Club” contains some

familiar elements of this film and such excellent works as “The Prime

of Miss Jean Brodie” and “Mr. Holland’s Opus.” Fortunately, it does

not feature the scenery-chewing stand-up act Robin Williams employed

in “Dead Poets’ Society.”

Instead, “The Emperor’s Club” features superb performances by an

excellent cast, especially the versatile Kevin Kline in the lead role

of Mr. Hundert.

As the film opens, Hundert has retired after teaching the classics

at St. Benedictus School for Boys for 34 years. St. Benedictus is a

repository for sons of the rich and powerful. After graduation, the

boys are virtually assured of placement in an Ivy League university,

and eventually positions of privilege in the corporate and political

aristocracy.

St. Benedictus and particularly Hundert pledge to do more than

simply educate these youngsters. The more difficult challenge is to

build character. Hundert tells his students, “A man’s character is

his fate.” Truly believing that any amount of accomplishment without

an overriding morality has no real worth, Hundert asks his students,

“How will history remember you?”

Hundert has been invited to a gathering of the class of 1976,

personally invited by one of his most troubled former students,

Sedgewick Bell (Emile Hirsch).

The son of a U.S. Senator, Bell stands as perhaps Hundert’s

greatest failure as a teacher. The obviously intelligent Bell found

Hundert to be hopelessly old fashioned and his ethical standards

nothing but an unnecessary impediment to success. The invitation from

Bell surprises Hundert and leads him to believe his teachings had a

belated, but perhaps significant effect on the formerly troubled

youth.

Kline portrays Hundert as the embodiment of thoughtful and ethical

behavior. He believes the truly ethical person applies the same high

standards to every aspect of their life and this behavior comes from

within the individual rather than being influenced by societal norms.

At times, this adherence to doing the right thing causes Hundert

great pain.

Kline’s understated performance is masterful. He must display the

full range of human emotion while the character seeks to present an

unshakable facade. I would not be at all surprised if Kline receives

an Oscar nomination for this work.

At the screening I attended, the audience actually applauded as

the end credits rolled. Treat yourself to a truly uplifting cinematic

experience and see this film.

* VAN NOVACK, 48, is the director of institutional research at

Cal State Long Beach.