Common Sense Media Review
Sidney Poitier at his best; teens and up.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 13+?
Any Positive Content?
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To Sir, with Love
What's the Story?
In TO SIR, WITH LOVE, it's 1966 London, and Mark Thackeray (Sidney Poitier) has taken on a teaching position in a rough school where teachers are jaded and afraid. Thackeray initially makes no headway with his rude students and searches for a job as an engineer. But he decides to keep trying, enforcing a strict behavior code accompanied by frank conversations about "life, sex, rebellion, and marriage." Proper conduct is soon the fashion, and the students call Thackeray "Sir." A boy refuses to heed Sir's lessons, and they end up facing off during physical education in an impromptu boxing session. The students learn a lesson in doing what's right, despite a society that frowns upon racial integration.
Is It Any Good?
Poitier is reason enough to watch this film, and his charisma makes the changes he brings to the students' world seem entirely plausible. To Sir, with Love's production design is marvelous and, along with the fine cinematography shot on location, captures the texture of London's East End in the 1960s. The music is a hoot, with song choices that surprise you like charming relics from another era.
Watching this dialogue-heavy movie requires a bit of effort, and young viewers may find their attention drifting. Making out the language can be difficult for those not used to hearing London cockney. But in a world of spoon-fed plots and predictable three-act structures, the film's organic storytelling sets it apart from more standard fare.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the film's message. What do you think the filmmaker was trying to get across? Did you think the movie was effective in conveying that message?
Class differences come up when a student tells Thackeray he's "like a toff but not," while another adds, "You're like us, but you ain't like us." What traits are the teens using to consider Thackeray posh? And what traits make him "like them," or working class? Is it helpful to think in terms of class-based stereotypes like this?
Consider the legacy of WWII-era British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, who's praised in To Sir, with Love. In what ways was the former PM successful? In what ways was he abhorrent? And how well does modern media balance that complexity in movies like The King's Speech and Darkest Hour or the TV show The Crown?
Do the filmmakers ever cross the line when portraying Pamela's crush on her teacher? What makes the depiction of a student-teacher crush inappropriate, and what can filmmakers do to ensure an appropriate depiction?
Movie Details
- In theaters : June 14, 1967
- On DVD or streaming : January 6, 1998
- Cast : Christian Roberts , Judy Geeson , Sidney Poitier
- Director : James Clavell
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s) , Black Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Columbia Tristar
- Genre : Drama
- Run time : 105 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : January 18, 2022
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