George believes that there exists no point in life and so thinks
that completing homework is meaningless. The teachers all like George but can’t
keep defending his lack of participation. He’s given an ultimatum; complete a
year’s worth of assignments in 3 weeks while also attending classes and doing
exams, or be expelled. His new friendship with a popular girl at school
disrupts his life but perhaps not in the worst way.
A lot of homework assignments are actually meaningless, I
think. I’d say that a large majority of homework is only given out to justify
the education system. Giving homework for the sake of keeping everyone occupied
just doesn’t seem like the best way to teach kids. I understand that it can be
useful to get them practising what they’ve learned in class but so much of it
is just repetitive and mind-numbing. Why not set general tasks and let the kids
create something that is individual to them? Although, I suppose, that would be
difficult to grade. But so what? It shouldn’t be about grades, it should be
about engagement with learning.
After becoming friends with Sally, George seems to find his
motivation in life. Which is nice and everything, but we saw none of what
caused that change. Apparently she’s amazing and he loves her but all she does
is talk to him a bit and introduce him to her friends? And then she fucks the
artist guy that George was learning from. I just don’t get how this helped him.
That’s a failing on the film’s part though, I think. There was no chemistry
between them and it seemed almost like it wouldn’t have mattered who the girl
was, all that mattered was that someone took an interest in him. Obviously it
helped him and that’s great but I just don’t think that’s a good way to go
about it.
6/10
