Critical Analysis of Film “The Great Debaters”

Critical Analysis of Film “The Great Debaters”
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Critical Analysis of Film “The Great Debaters”
The Great Debaters is a drama film based on the true story of Professor Melvin B. Tolson, during his time at the Wiley College in Texas. The film is about how the professor inspired his student to form the first debate team in the school, in 1935, and how he mentored the team and guided them through various competitions to finally, challenge Harvard in the final national championship. The overall effect depicted by the film tends to focus on fostering determination and competitiveness among students. Although the film may seem to target school going children, it appeals to a wider audience owing to its innate message that one should not underestimate him/herself irrespective of one’s social background. I believe the film managed to pull out clearly its message due to its context and theme. The fact that the movie relate to the time when the majority white population subjugated the black community in the U.S, it clearly exhibits the social contrast that can exist between two persons, which can be a stumbling block to one realizing his full potential. The use of such a context was successful to send the right message home, as many of the U.S population and other people in the world can relate to it.
The film title states an explicit thesis for the creative art. When one reads the title of the film, “The Great Debaters,” one expects to encounter two opposing groups of debaters each trying to outdo the other. This is what actually transpires throughout the movie, with students from different schools showcasing the debating capabilities. The sensational direction of the film and its terrific cast, however, resonate other themes particularly that which links to the historical experiences of the black community in the U.S, when they had to go through hardships and tolerance to eventually making it to the top. The historical perspective of the film actually relates to the theme, ‘debate.’ Just as a debate where two opposing sides have to disagree on certain issues and clash until eventually the thoughts of one side or team prevails, is the historical perspective portrayed in the film. The thesis of the film further manages to connect to education as it tries to emphasize on the importance of education, something that was not well understood among a majority of the black community during the old times. The debates in the film expose the potential in the black and stereotypical students, who come to learn that education is important and that they can actually do well in it just as their counterparts from the white majority.
By looking at how things unfold in the film, The Great Debaters, it is evidence that the movie tries to bring out an organic sense of how it is possible to nurture young minds to produce desired social outcome. The film demonstrates how society can influence the behavioral and brain development of a person, especially during early age of development. As children grow, they tend to pick some of the characters and attitudes from what the society dictates to them and this sometimes may prevent one from identifying with the true character and capabilities within one’s self. The plot of the film concentrates on how the coach, Melvin I. Tolson mentored and trained his four students Henry Lowe, Samantha Booke, James Farmer, Jr., and Hamilton Burgess, to form a strong and able debate team. Throughout the process, the team rises against all odds, defeating the societal stereotypes that was dragging them towards self-destruction and self-pity, factors that were the roadblocks to their success. The movie portrayed education as a tool that could evoke great change in children’s lives as it instills confidence and caring attitude, removing slacker attitudes, w...