Unit 6(1)

Ⅰ. Introduction:

Introduction to the movie:

Dead Poets Society is a 1989 drama film starring Robin Williams and directed by Peter Weir. Set at a conservative and aristocratic boys prep school, it tells the story of an English teacher who inspires his students to change their lives of conformity through his teaching of poetry and literature.

The story is set at the fictional Welton Academy in V ermont in the 1950s, and was filmed at St. Andrew's School in Middletown, Delaware. The script, written by Tom Schulman, is based on his life at Montgomery Bell Academy, an all-boys preparatory school in Nashville, Tennessee.

Dead Poets Society won the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay (Tom Schulman). Peter Weir received a nomination for Best Director and the film itself was nominated for Best Picture of 1989. Robin Williams received his second Best Actor in a Leading Role nomination and it has since been widely recognized as one of the actor/comedian's best roles. It also won the BAFTA Award for Best Film.

The film's line "Carpe diem. Seize the day, boys. Make your lives extraordinary." was voted as the 95th greatest movie quote by the American Film Institute. Also, the film was voted one of the 100 Most Inspiring Films of All Time by the AFI.

Introduction to Peter Lindsay Weir:

Peter Lindsay Weir (born 21 August 1944) is an Australian film director. After playing a leading role in the Australian New Wave cinema with his films such as Picnic at Hanging Rock, The Last Wave and Gallipoli, Weir directed a diverse group of American and international films—many of them major box office hits—including the Academy Award nominees Witness, Dead Poets Society, Green Card, The Truman Show and Master and Commander.

Main works:

Picnic at Hanging Rock (1975)《悬崖下的野餐》The Last Wave (1977)《终浪》

Gallipoli (1981)《加里波底》Witness (1985)《目击者》

Dead Poets Society (1989)《死亡诗社》Green Card (1990)《绿卡情缘》

Fearless (1993)《空难遗梦》The Truman Show (1998)《楚门的世界》Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World (2003)《怒海争锋》

The Way Back (2010)《回来的路》

Introduction to Robin Williams:

Robin McLaurim Williams(born July 21, 1951) is an American actor and comedian. He has performed in many feature films since 1980. He won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in the 1997 film Good Will Hunting. He has also won four Golden Globes.

Starring in

Good Morning, Vietnam (1987)《早安越南》Dead Poets Society (1989)《死亡诗社》

The Fisher King (1991)《渔王》Mrs. Doubtfire (1993)《窈窕奶爸》

Good Will Hunting (1997)《心灵捕手》

Voicing in

Aladdin (1992)《阿拉丁》Happy Feet (2006)《快乐的大脚》Happy Feet 2 (2011)《快乐的大脚2》