Classic Film Friday: Conrack

This 1974 movie sparked my interest immediately when I realized how close to home it hit. Based on the autobiographical novel by Pat Conroy, it tells the story of a young teacher heading out to an isolated barrier island in South Carolina which is made up of a small black community most of whom had never been off the island, not even to nearby Beaufort. In the movie the island is called "Yamacraw Island" but as I suspected it was the fictional name given to our very own Daufuskie Island.

In his ventures, Conroy (Jon Voight), or as the kids call him Conrack, has a lot to learn about this population of kids. There is a 2 room school house with as the kids call her "bitch woman" on the other side. She talks down to them and belittles them and they don't like it. The principal/other teacher doesn't like Conrack and the whole thing goes round from there.

Conroy seems to be making headway until a couple of visits from the superintendent heed his disapproval. Conrack, having really bonded with these needy kids now, goes head to head with him and loses. There were some very telling moments about the way people thought in a small southern town in 1969. One that comes to mind is when the superintendent warns Conroy, "You keep those kids on that side of the river....don't bring them over here (Beaufort)."

This film, nominated for an Academy Award, captured me from the beginning. Yes, I am a teacher and yes, I lived in Beaufort, South Carolina for 8 years, so of course I'd feel connected. But putting that aside, it's a good teacher overcomes obstacles for the sake of the children kind of flick. You can watch a clip here.