Product Details

• Actors: Rafe Esquith, Ian McKellen, Michael York
• Directors: Mel Stuart
• Producers: Alex Rotaru, Mel Stuart, Chad Baron, Tamara Blaich
• Format: Closed-captioned, Color, DVD, NTSC
• Language: English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo)
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: New Video Group
• DVD Release Date: February 28, 2006
• Run Time: 52 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (33 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B000CRR3GA
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #53,896 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
• For more information about "The Hobart Shakespeareans" visit the Internet Movie Database (IMDb)

Editorial Reviews

Studio: New Video Group Release Date: 02/28/2006

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

26 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must-see DVD -- A remarkable teacher, September 15, 2006

By 

Miss "Barbara" (North Little Rock, Arkansas USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Hobart Shakespeareans [VHS] (VHS Tape)

This documentary was remarkable--moving and inspiring. Wouldn't it be wonderful if there were more teachers like Rafe Asquith! Not many are willing or able to take the time out of their personal lives that he does, but it's obvious that spending those Saturdays and taking those trips with his students are more important to him than spending free time at home. It's obvious, too, that he teaches not only facts, but values and life lessons. He CARES. I just loved him.

And "guest speakers" to his classroom weren't shabby--Michael York and Ian McKellen, who said that being there made him want to cry because the students felt the same way he does about Shakespeare.

The camera work was excellent, capturing the expressions on those kids' faces--the tears, the joy, the comprehension, the pride. A scene that particularly impressed me was the one when Asquith was reading from Huckleberry Finn. The camera focused on the face of one boy and as he listened, tears rolled down his cheeks. Others, equally moved, were also shown. It's amazing that the teacher made them FEEL that story so deeply and that these ten-year-old children grasped and empathized with the Huck's inner conflict at the thought of turning in his slave friend, Jim.

Some of the Amazon reviewers of Rafe Asquith's book were critical. Some of the teachers in his own school shunned him. I'm sure it was hard for them to compete. I taught in public schools, and I can understand how they felt. In all honesty, I was not dedicated to the degree that he is. I had children of my own and could not give that kind of extra time and effort to my career even though I loved teaching. But it's still inspiring to see the true story of such a remarkable teacher, and I think anyone could learn something from his approach to teaching.

23 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Teaching the way it SHOULD be done, very inspiring!, July 5, 2006

By 

K. Corn "reviewer" (midwest, United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 100 REVIEWER)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Hobart Shakespeareans (DVD)

One teacher takes a group of kids from the roughest neighborhoods and not only gets them to put on a production of Hamlet each year but teaches them to learn, grow and believe in themselves, day in, day out. It isn't easy and the challenges are shown in detail but this teacher also shares his philosophy - and what a philosophy it is! He admits that he failed in his first years of teaching, watching as his former students failed in middle school.
But somehow he recreated his teaching method and, in the process, has inspired countless children, gotten actors like Ian McKellan and Michael York to visit his classroom (!) and taught children who'd had teachers give up on them that they were not doomed to failure. If more teachers were like this one, what a future generation we'd have!
Great family film....great film, period.

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Inspiring and moving, January 9, 2006

By 

S. Golden (New York, NY) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Hobart Shakespeareans (DVD)

This PBS film should be viewed by everyone. It is motivational and inspiring. It truely defeats the "what can I do I'm only one person?" attitude. Makes you wish that all people had the same attitude as Rafe Esquith; the world would be a better place.