In honor of the new school year I’ve come up with a list of the best teachers in movies.
There are many movies whose central character is a teacher, but as I was compiling this list I found that most of my favorite movie teachers are not main characters. They are supporting characters who mentor and teach the main characters. I find that I adore these teachers because of how they affect and change the lead characters. If the teacher is important to the hero, then they are important to me, the viewer. This list includes a wide array of teachers. Of course there are school teachers, but I’ve also included some coaches and a few wise old sages.
In no particular order, here are some of my favorite movie teachers:
Sam Mussabini, ‘Chariots of Fire’ (1981)
Played by Ian Holm
Sam Mussabini is Harold Abrahams’ running coach. Abrahams is determined to become the fastest man in the world, so he seeks out Sam to help him achieve perfection. Harold is stubborn, but eager to learn and Sam is the best coach in the business. Sam is blunt and straight-forward with Harold, but he is also great comic relief in the film. Abrahams is a Jew and Mussabini is half-Arab and together they are victims of racism and doubt. Though much of England looks down upon them, they never waiver from their ultimate goal: to win a gold medal at the Olympic Games. Ian Holm nabbed an Oscar Nomination for this role.
Charles Xavier, ‘X-Men’ (2000)
Played by Patrick Stewart
Professor Xavier runs a private school for young mutants. He provides a safe place for them to learn to control and use their superpowers. These mutants who grow to be X-Men – and Women – have been ostracized by society, and Professor X’s school gives them a place to belong. For most comic book heroes being super means a lonely existence, but I like how Professor X brings all the X-Men together at his school. In most other superhero movies the hero learns to use his powers by himself, but in X-Men the students are taught by more experienced supers. I think Professor X’s school gives the X-Men franchise a unique place in the superhero genre.
Miss Dodger, ‘Phoebe in Wonderland’ (2008)
Played by Patricia Clarkson
Phoebe in Wonderland is a wonderful little indie film that tells the story of a young girl Phoebe, played by Elle Fanning, who has Tourette’s Syndrome and OCD. When she is cast as Alice in her school’s production of Alice in Wonderland she finds that her ticks and distressing mannerisms go away when she is performing. She is encouraged to immerse herself in the world of theater by her drama teacher, Miss Dodger. Miss Dodger teaches her students the power of imagination and teamwork. She takes particular interest in Phoebe and helps her tackle her real-world problems as well.
I would say Phoebe in Wonderland is not a fantastic movie, but it sure is great. It has a bit of a weird, fantasy edge, and I would have preferred that it stayed more real and grounded; however, Elle Fanning’s acting is incredible. She was only nine when it was filmed and it’s a pretty heroic performance.
Obi-Wan Kenobi, ‘Star Wars’ (1977)
Played by Alec Guiness
Obi-Wan Kenobi: a classic example of a wise old sage. He is the first person to teach Luke about the ways of the Jedi and he sets Luke on the path that leads him to countless acts of heroism and bravery. I love it when a character like Obi-Wan has a great backstory. It makes the character more real if we know the life he lived before he met our hero. Too often audiences are asked to just believe that a character is worldly and wise or battle-worn without being told how he became that way. Obi-Wan has studied the ways of the Jedi for decades, he fought in the Clone Wars and he saw how the Empire came into power. With his experience and knowledge he guides Luke toward his destiny. Even in death, Obi-Wan influences Luke.
Remus Lupin, ‘Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban’ (2004)
Played by David Thewlis
There are many teachers in the Harry Potter series. I considered putting Severus Snape on this list, but, though I love him dearly, I don’t love him because he’s a teacher. In the films Professor Lupin is probably the most well drawn-out teacher. Some would argue that Dumbledore is a better teacher than Lupin and, though that is true in the books, we don’t see Dumbledore do much teaching in the movies. Keep in mind this list is based on the films, not the books.
Lupin is the first professor that Harry sees as more than a teacher. Lupin teaches him how to defend himself against dementors, but he is also a window to the past. Before Harry meets Lupin he knows almost nothing about his parents. Lupin is the first person who can talk to him intimately about Lily and James, and their relationship quickly moves from teacher/student to father/son. A lot of Potter fans don’t like David Thewlis, but I think he is perfect casting. He was first considered for Professor Quirrell in “Sorcerer’s Stone” but the part went to Ian Hart, leaving Thewlis available to play Lupin. He captures Lupin’s strong, gentle qualities, but he is also able to portray his defeated, broken side.
Erin Gruwell, ‘Freedom Writers’ (2007)
Played by Hilary Swank
Freedom Writers is based on the inspiring true story of Erin Gruwell. In the film Gruwell is an idealistic young teacher whose first teaching job is at Woodrow Wilson High School in Long Beach, California. Most of the students in the school live in serious poverty and will be lucky if they graduate. Almost every student is part of a gang. The Latinos hate the Cambodians who hate the blacks and so on.
The film follows one of Gruwell’s classes through their freshman and sophomore years. Slowly, but surely, she is able to get through to her students. She teaches them to love reading and writing, but she also breaks down the barriers between the many gangs in her class. She teaches them tolerance and the importance of applying themselves. Hilary Swank seems to be Hollywood’s go-to actress for gritty, real-life stories (Boys Don’t Cry, Conviction) and as always, she is amazing.
Ms. Edmunds, ‘Bridge to Terabithia’ (2007)
Played by Zooey Deschanel
Out of all my favorite teachers, Ms. Edmunds is the one I would most like to have as a real-life teacher. Ms. Edmunds is the young music teacher at Jess and Leslie’s school. Jess is a quiet, lonely kid who loves to draw and use his imagination. Jess has four sisters, so he gets very little attention at home. His father is disappointed that Jess would rather draw than work at the family hardware store and his mother is always too busy to spend any time with him.
Though the film is mainly about the friendship between Jess and Leslie, Ms. Edmunds is very important to Jess as well. She encourages Jess to explore his creative side. In one of my favorite scenes she takes Jess into the city to an art museum. In that scene she seems like more of a big sister than a teacher. I am so happy that Zooey Deschanel is acting now. She started out as a singer in her band called She and Him. Her first big movie was Elf. She’s a great actor and she has such beautiful, expressive eyes. She lights up the screen in this movie. The scenes where she is singing in class are just luminous.