“Gather ye rosebuds while ye may. In Latin, the phrase is carpe diem. Literally, it means ‘seize the day.’”
Peter Weir’s film about a poetry teacher was nominated for all the major film awards in 1990, won the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay, and was named Best Film by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts. Its box-office success was staggering: made on a budget of $16.4 million, the film grossed more than $235 million. Following the film, its star Robin Williams revealed himself as a serious dramatic actor, and critics stopped seeing him solely as a comedian.
“It’s one of those films in which you can discover different truths at different points in your life. When I was in high school, I remember the film inspiring me with the most obvious insight: to appreciate the creation and consumption of art and, in my case, to keep pursuing writing. As an adult, what impressed me most about Dead Poets Society was its source of inspiration: it’s a film about how our words and actions can inspire and motivate the people around us.”
Film critic Luke Buckmaster, The Guardian.