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.
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