From the review of Kinopoisk:
“Alexander Payne once again created a cinematic miracle, shooting a subtle, soulful, touching and soulful work, and did it with his inherent naturalness.”
1970. Private boarding school, where children of wealthy parents study. Most children are difficult teenagers, from whom parents try to free themselves and see them only on vacation. It’s Christmas, but not all children are taken away by parents. Five remain, and among them the most difficult teenager Angus. And the “herds” of children are entrusted to the history teacher Hanham, who is hated not only by students, but also by teachers. Hanham likes to mock teenagers in the process of learning, is uncooperative and lives a bean.
It so happens that Hanham and Angus remain alone in the boarding school and gradually their mutual hostility in the process of communication develops into mutual sympathy.
In general, there is nothing new in the plot, but in this film the actors played very subtly with a high degree of professionalism. This is all the more significant since Angus is played by aspiring actor Dominic Cessa.
I liked the movie. I think he deserves an Oscar nomination, as film critics predict.