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if....

if....

Drama · 1968

In an English boys' boarding school, social hierarchy reigns supreme and power remains in the hands of distanced and ineffectual teachers and callously vicious prefects in the Upper Sixth. Three Lower Sixth students, Wallace, Johnny and leader Mick Travis decide on a shocking course of action to redress the balance of privilege once and for all.

Movie details

if....

“Which side will you be on?”

1968 Drama 1h 52m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

7.0 / 10

Community rating

In an English boys' boarding school, social hierarchy reigns supreme and power remains in the hands of distanced and ineffectual teachers and callously vicious prefects in the Upper Sixth. Three Lower Sixth students, Wallace, Johnny and leader Mick Travis decide on a shocking course of action to redress the balance of privilege once and for all.

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over if....?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

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Iron Jawed Angels

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When principal Joe Clark takes over decaying Eastside High School, he's faced with students wearing gang colors and graffiti-covered walls. Determined to do anything he must to turn the school around, he expels suspected drug dealers, padlocks doors and demands effort and results from students, staff and parents. Autocratic to a fault, this real-life educator put it all on the line.

Steve

Steve

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Over one intense day, the devoted head teacher of a last-chance reform school strives to keep his students in line while facing pressures of his own.

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The Unforgivable

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Freedom Writers

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A young teacher inspires her class of at-risk students to learn tolerance, apply themselves, and pursue education beyond high school.

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

Lindsay Anderson

Written by

David Sherwin · John Howlett

Malcolm McDowell

Malcolm McDowell

Mick Travis

David Wood

David Wood

Johnny Knightly

Richard Warwick

Richard Warwick

Wallace

Christine Noonan

Christine Noonan

The Girl

R

Rupert Webster

Bobby Phillips

Robert Swann

Robert Swann

Rowntree

H

Hugh Thomas

Denson

Court is in session

Put if.... on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Prestige Tourist

“Ambition earns the room.”

The film reaches for consequence and scale, accepting the risk of seriousness instead of shrinking from it.

The prosecution The Popcorn Loyalist

“Importance has entered the chat.”

The production keeps announcing its significance, as though awards-season posture were proof of insight.