Synopsis
In the verdant village of Kells, Ireland, there's an antidote to the dark times we live in - a worn and weathered boarding school with a special magic. At the heart of the school is a bemused elderly couple, John and Amanda Leyden, who have taught with equal parts seriousness and silliness for more than 40 years. The delight of SCHOOL LIFE is watching the pair undertake beloved pedagogical rituals, from performing the writings of great authors to coaching a fledgling rock band, like donning a favourite sweater.The couple’s kindness and inventiveness usher young children through patches of loneliness and angst. Although they pretend to dread loud, screaming kids, the truth is they cannot go a day without them. As John and Amanda ponder retirement, unapologetically chain-smoking in their ivy-covered cottage, the film poses a quietly profound question: Will their intimate, caring cultivation of future generations live on, or will it vanish like so many community-centered practices?
