Get ready for face-to-face classes with these must-watch school films!
Hello, fellow students! It’s been a long time since we’ve been able to step foot inside our schools due to the pandemic. We’ve traded in the familiar scent of the hallways and classrooms for the glow of our laptop screens. But now, as we finally begin to return to face-to-face classes, it’s time to get hyped!
And what better way to do that than with some great movies that celebrate the unique experience of being a student? So, we’ve compiled five films that would surely get you all psyched for the classroom air. From romance to comedy to drama, these movies nail the ups and downs of campus life and will make you even more eager to experience it all in person. Get ready because school has never been more thrilling!
Get ready for face-to-face classes with these must-watch school films!
Linda Linda Linda (2005)
Friends make campus life bearable, especially after a long day of textbooks and activities. Kicking off our list is the 2005 Japanese film Linda Linda Linda, directed by Nobuhiro Yamashita. The movie follows a group of high school girls who form a band and perform at their school’s cultural festival. If the idea of teenagers starting a rock band doesn’t get you hyped, I don’t know what will.
More than just showcasing the power of music, the film demonstrates how friends can lift each other up and overcome obstacles together, even with their own identities and differences. It reminds us that there is a transformative power in coming together around a common goal and that true friendship knows no boundaries. Linda Linda Linda is a heartwarming reminder of the joys of forming new connections and bonds as we survive our school years.
It’s a Summer Film! (2021)
When we talk about friendship, missing out on the companionship and camaraderie in Soushi Matsumoto’s 2021 film, It’s a Summer Film!, will be a shame! In this movie, Barefoot, a high school period geek, determines to make a samurai film for their school festival. She sets out to bring her vision to life with the help of her closest friends, despite the internal and external challenges that arise.
Undoubtedly, this film stands out as the most eclectic of the five movies on this list, as it blends drama, comedy, high school life, romance, and even science fiction! It’s like a fruit salad of ideas that deliciously reminds us of things we were passionate about and how we pursued them while navigating school life. Beyond the umbrella of friendship, It’s a Summer Film! also showcases how our experiences as students can form us and build our confidence to pursue our dreams in the future. After watching this movie, you will undoubtedly long for the excitement of extracurricular activities that make school life all the more enjoyable!
April Story (1998)
If you’re looking for something personal, director Shunji Iwai has just the film for incoming college freshmen – April Story. The movie follows Uzuki, a young girl who moves to Tokyo to begin her university studies. In the bustling city, Uzuki navigates the challenges of making new friends, finding her place in the world, and experiencing the joys and sorrows of first love.
Starting college can be disorienting and April Story captures the experience with calmness and relatability. Uzuki’s journey allows us to identify with the excitement and uncertainty that come with starting a new chapter in life. This film is an essential back-to-school watch because it highlights the importance of embracing new experiences, being open to new people and ideas, and cherishing the relationships that we form along the way.
Our Times (2015)
Let’s not overlook the romance that can only be found on campus! Forming a bond that develops into something deeper is an experience that cannot be replicated online. The Taiwanese rom-com, Our Times, depicts this beautifully. The movie follows Lin Truly, a high school girl who falls in love with the school’s notorious bad boy in the 1990s. As she reminisces about her first love in her 30s, we can’t help but yearn for more face-to-face interactions!
Like the protagonist who reflects on her campus days, the film reminds us of how we made mistakes in school and why we shouldn’t avoid them. Mistakes help shape us into who we are and give us something to look back on when we feel lost. The campus offers experiences worth cherishing before stepping into adulthood!
Cleaners (2019)
And now, for the ultimate school feature that would not just excite you but rouse you to make the most of your campus life, we give you Glenn Barit’s Cleaners! This coming-of-age film takes us on a deep dive into our collective memory as high school students, full of embarrassing and formative moments. With vibrant vignettes portrayed in highlighters and black-and-white pictures reminiscent of our photocopied reviewers, Cleaners culminates everything that makes school life worth remembering.
Whether you’re in high school, college, or now swamped in the workplace, nothing can encapsulate the unmissable experience inside the campus like Cleaners. It’s full of everything that reminds us of school, from extracurriculars to romance to forming unexpected bonds. The film shows how every story becomes a tale of courage and self-discovery that can either make or break us as we grow up. But how can we have such stories if we’re stuck inside our homes, right? Face-to-face classes supremacy!
What are you waiting for? Grab a snack and binge everything on our list to get in the spirit of face-to-face classes!
