Hobart Shakespeareans
by Mel Stuart
Very interesting documentary about a 5th grade class in an inner-city Los Angeles elementary school. Rafe Esquith is the teacher and as part of the curriculum, he has his students perform Hamlet every year. What’s amazing about their performance is that these 9-11 year olds actually understand it.The kids all speak English as a second language and their first language continues to be spoken in the home. Most have family members who have drug and alcohol problems and most have seen acts of heavy violence first hand. These are the sorts of kids that usually end up on the streets themselves. But a large percentage of Esquith’s students end up going on to college – many to Ivy League schools.
It’s a P.O.V. production which is always fascinating. Very inspiring. (Was part of the Spiritual Cinema Circle DVD this month).
