Frederick Wiseman witnesses a new approach to learning at New York's Central Park East Secondary School, a successful alternative high school in New York's Spanish Harlem, 85-95% of whose graduates go on to four year colleges. The film illustrates the school's emphasis on the “Habits of Mind” program (weighing evidence; awareness of multiple points of view; seeing connections and relationships; speculating on possibilities; and assessing values.)
EN
“I worked on High School II for two days, filling in for the regular Assistant Camera. As John Davey, the DP / Camera Operator, pulled his own focus, the position was reduced to loading 16mm magazines. Mr. Wiseman said a total of four words to me each day: ‘Good morning’ when we started, and ‘Thank you,’ when we finished. Mr. Wiseman never cut during the 11 minutes the 400-foot loads ran. He and Mr. Davey would shoot one magazine after another, all day long, stopping only to tail slate and reload. Their focus on their work, while we were shooting, was remarkable. I have never witnessed that level of concentration on any set I have worked on since. It is little wonder that Mr. Wiseman is one of the great filmmakers.”
Lodge Kerrigan 1
“Mr . Wiseman's approach has remained the same over the last 25 years. There is no narration, no identification of characters. His camera simply settles in and eavesdrops. Central Park East is the perfect setting for a film that forces viewers to draw their own conclusions. The school's program includes constant, casual talks between students and teachers, who are always called by their first names: Bridget, Debbie, Richard. Each episode of "High School II" creates a tiny drama of its own, until the film assumes the breadth of a mini-series and the fascination of a trenchant novel of manners.”
Caryn James2
