Now featured in The YouTube Screening Room: Jake Polonsky’s School of Life. “The film may be set in an elementary school, but it tells a poignantly ironic story that any adult will relate to. School of Life won the 2004 British Independent Film Award for Best Short.” A higher quality version can be watched here. But make sure you have a high speed connection.
School of Life: An Award-Winning Short Indie Film
Support Open Culture
We’re hoping to rely on our loyal readers rather than erratic ads. To support Open Culture’s educational mission, please consider making a donation. We accept PayPal, Venmo (@openculture), Patreon and Crypto! Please find all options here. We thank you! 
Support Us
We're hoping to rely on loyal readers, rather than erratic ads. Please click the Donate button and support Open Culture. You can use Paypal, Venmo, Patreon, even Crypto! We thank you!
Receive our Daily Email
About Us
Open Culture scours the web for the best educational media. We find the free courses and audio books you need, the language lessons & educational videos you want, and plenty of enlightenment in between.
Advertise With Us
©2006-2023 Open Culture, LLC.
All rights reserved.
Open Culture was founded by Dan Colman.
quite a poignant work
unique writing, unique media
choice worked well for the piece
whoa, I did not agree with that teacher and her lesson ‘Garth is life’
The film is only short, but it’s message is simple. Life isn’t faire. It’s a bitter truth, but that’s just the way it is. The narrative in Stanley going to looking outside classroom, has a powerful metaphor. Sometimes you have to go looking for the answer, its what the answer is at the end. There could’ve been many endings to this, depending on the metaphoric circumstances. There not being enough papers and Garth not sharing is, well sods law. You probably take it you get hurt. It could’ve gone the other way if they wanted to, Garth needs the paper and Stanley won’t give it back and the ending lesson the same for Garth. Back to my talk, if there had been something different involved, the teachers reply may have been different. It just happens this situation wasn’t faire. Well as I said most things in life aren’t faire. His friend played a short but powerful message. he didn’t want to comform to something that wasn’t worth it. Stanley wanted to comform afriad he could miss something important. Which in the end, leaves him in the dark knowing that his friend was probably right. Why try if its not worth it.