Mr. McArevey is a visionary headmaster at a Catholic primary school in one of the toughest neighborhoods of Belfast, Northern Ireland. He loves Elvis and teaches his students to connect with their feelings while taking on “The Troubles.” In this exceptional portrait of a community still healing from trauma, we follow this educator extraordinaire as he uses Ancient Greek wisdom as an antidote for pessimism, violence, and historical despair.
“Young Plato” is a part of DOC NYC’s (Nov 10-18th) 2021 lineup. Click here to learn more about how you can purchase a ticket for this title (both for in-person and digital screenings).
In “Young Plato,” Kevin McArevey – an Elvis-loving, athletic Headmaster – sets out to improve the lives of his Belfast students. McArevey hopes to have his students look past their tumultuous Protestant and Catholic upbringing and achieve a peaceful coexistence by teaching basic philosophy. Archive footage showcases The Troubles, a 30-year sectarian conflict that devastated both sides and forged intergenerational tension. This tension comes out in school fights and insults between the boys causing McArevey to revisit his lessons encouraging critical thinking and pacifism. During the first philosophy class – a bomb is discovered outside the all-boys school. McArevey remains calm and congratulates the young boys on their swift evacuation.
Like most recent documentaries, “Young Plato” joins the trend of capturing a community dealing with COVID-19. McArevey handles the situation well and although the global pandemic is ongoing, the documentary ends optimistically with a solid drone shot. And while its subject matter becomes a tad digressive, the goal of opening young minds to ancient wisdom is magnificent.
“Young Plato” recently had its World Premiere at the 2021 DOC NYC Film Festival
