The Emperor’s Club
The Emperor's Club is a 2002 American drama
film directed by Michael Hoffman and starring Kevin Kline. Based on Ethan
Canin's short story "The Palace Thief", the film follows a prep
school teacher and his students at a fictional boys' prep school, St.
Benedict's Academy, near Washington, D.C.
It was filmed at Emma Willard School in
Troy, New York, although St. Benedict's Academy is said to be modeled after
Phillips Exeter Academy, a preparatory school in Exeter, New Hampshire. Kline,
discussing the film at his alma mater, St. Louis Priory School, said that he
modeled his character after the Rev. Dom Timothy Horner, an English Benedictine
monk and headmaster of Priory when Kline was enrolled there. This was the third
film that Hoffman and Kline worked on together.
Main
characters of the movie The Emperor’s Club are the following:
·
William Hundert (Kevin Kline) – A very passionate teacher of St.
Benedict’s Academy.
·
Martin Blythe (Paul Dano) – One of Mr. Kline’s smartest students and an aspiring "Mr.
Julius Caesar"
The movie is about Mr. William Hundert
and his excellence in teaching in the academy of St. Benedict which is
exclusive for boys. He started his class in the past days as usual and then
there came a new student of his class with a very different aura named
Sedgewick Bell. Mr. Bell go along with his naughty acts and disregard his
studies until Mr. Hundert talked to his father. Mr. Bell somewhat challenge Mr.
Hundert as he teaches and molds the class that made Mr. Hundert believe on his
hidden capabilities. Mr. Bell somehow changed his ways and began to give much
effort on his studies. His continuous effort gave way to an opportunity to be
included in the very anticipated event in the academy which is the competition
of the top 3 students to be reigned as “Mr. Julius Caesar”. But for a reason,
Mr. Hundert was somewhat moved by his drastic change from being a naughty and
careless student to a hardworking and responsible one and gave him Martin
Blythe’s place to be one of the three finalists for the said competition.
The competition came and students
along with some guests like Mr. Bell’s father, which is senator, have gathered
to witness the event. The finalists were Mr. Louis Masoudi, Mr. Deepak Mehta
and Mr. Sedgewick Bell. The competition started and after some series of
questions Mr. Masoudi was eliminated. It has been a tough one between Bell and Mehta,
but Mehta came on top as Bell can’t answer the question given by Mr. Hundert.
Mr. Hundert was impressed by Bell’s performance and visited him in his room but
Mr. Hundert was shocked and disappointed when he found out that Mr. Bell
cheated during the competition. Mr. Hundert’s
life was somehow affected by what happened for the next few years.
25 years later Mr. Hundert and
his fellow teacher Elizabeth are now married to each other. The headmaster of
the academy already passed away and Mr. Hundert is looking to be the new
headmaster but his fellow teacher, Mr. Ellerby was the one picked because he
was said to be a good fundraiser which what the school needs. Because of that
Mr. Hundert retired from being a teacher. Not too long after what happened He
was invited by Mr. Bell in their class reunion to be the host of the rematch of
“Mr. Julius Caesar” between the three finalists. Bell also promised to donate a
large amount to the school as he is now a wealthy man. The competition started
and just like before Mr. Masoudi was eliminated but this time much earlier. The
remaining two battled just like the old days but Mr. Hundert noticed an earpiece
in Bell’s ear and also noticed a guy far way back in the room looking at books
for answers that lead Mr. Hundert to ask a different question which is “who is
Shutruk Nahunte?”. Bell couldn’t answer so Mr. Mehta quickly answered it and
won the competition once again. Mr. Kline was shocked again thinking that Bell
already changed and learned his mistakes from the past but he was wrong. Mr.
Bell found Mr. Hundert in the restroom and Mr. Hundert confronted him and Bell said
that he don’t care about Mr. Hundert’s teaching of virtues and principles as he
is living in the so-called real world where if it takes to cheat or to lie, he
will. Not knowing that Bell’s son was a;lson in the restroom and heard all of
the things that he said and he was embarrassed that he just revealed that he is
a cheater to his son. Mr. Hundert already knew it is enough and told Mr. Blythe
was happened way back then in the Mr. Julius Caesar finalists which he gave
away Blythe’s spot for Bell. And invited Mr. Blythe for a breakfast next
morning but he knew they already left in a rush. Not knowing that his students prepared
a surprise for him thanking his excellence in molding them into a better person.
He then realized that even if he failed on molding Bell, he still succeeded on
his remaining students.
Mr. Hundert came back to teach
in the academy once again which is now a school not only for boys but also for
girls. As Mr. Hundert begin his classes with an introduction a late student came
in which the son of Mr. Blythe and he was touched seeing Mr. Blythe outside the
window as they exchange a wave and let Mr. Blythe’s son read the plaque on the
door which is about Shutruk Nahunte which was read by his father way back then.
There are a lot of virtues that
we can get from the movie but there are some that really strucked me like the
lines of “Follow the path, Mr. Masoudi. Walk where the great men before you
have walked.”. This simple line was said from the start of the movie where Mr.
Hundert met Mr. Masoudi. There were a lot of people ahead of us here in this
world and they can be our guide as we walk our path to our success. There are a
lot of greats that have lived their lives in a good and successful one all we
have to do is to choos the right one. Another virtue I’ve got is from the lines
of Mr. Hundert which is “a man’s character is his fate.” Which is said in the
start of the movie. I believe that a person’s character is what carries them to
the path based on their character. A person’s fate will depend on it which has
corresponding consequences based on how our own character will be. Lastly, the
virtue that I also got from the movie is from the lines “the end depends on the
beginning”. A very beautiful line that
is indeed true. Every action that we do has its own consequence. What we did
from the past is just a result of our past choices, decisions and actions.
If I was Mr. Hundert I might
also give Mr. Bell the spot because I might be blinded by what happens in the
present time which a very hardworking Mr. Bell and think that he really deserves
it as a prize from changing into a naughty and careless one to a responsible
one. I will also give it to him for the reason of thinking that this opportunity
might change him permanently and change for the better.
The first statement that I
chose is “the man’s character is his fate” which I can relate to Heraclitus’
teaching about our fate and our character as a person. What is important about
this statement in my present time as a senior high school student that it is
not yet too late to be better and build up a good character. It is essential in
the future to have good character because there is a lot bigger world out there
and my character will help me cope and face all of the things that may come.
The second statement is about “it is not living that is important but living
well” which I can relate on Socrates’ and Aristotle’s teachings. Socrates taught
us that living a good and examined life is better which is true because it is
the key to living well which is exploring and learning the life we have and
using what is around us to have a great life to live. Also about Aristotle’s
teaching of happiness which is the result of living well. Happiness is the
result of having a examined and fulfilled life with no regrets because the gift
of life was used and consumed with happiness as goal.
Practically and honestly,
almost all of us aim for the riches and material things in this world which is
how we look of being a successful person. Success depends on the person’s goal
and limit or his or her contentment. For me I would pick having a successful
life at any cost while having a good and examined life. Life is a great gift
that we shall explore and consume in our own choices and actions as long as it doesn’t
affect others. I think that being a successful person will lead me examine and
have a better life to live in its own limits.
I think Mr. Hundert fit me well
because I do and decide what I think what is the best for others, not knowing
that there can be a bad consequence waiting out there and just trusting too
much on the positive outcomes. Sometimes I think positively too much which just
eventually fail. I also tend to forget other factors around that can be a
brighter one and be blinded what I see brighter in the present day and not look
on some dimmed lights out three that may shine someday. But on the end of the
day I am just like Mr. Hundert ready to give chances to others, being
understanding and trying to be passionate to others and help them in some ways
that I think is batter and what is the limit of what I can do for them.
There are a lot of insights out
there in the movie noticeable or not. Some of them that have touched me the most
is about how teachers were so under rated as I would say by us students that
they really affect our lives greatly. They help to mold our personality and
characters to be ready in the future that awaits us. Another insight is about
building our own characters and trying to build a nice and better one.
Characters carry our fate in life and along with our acts and decisions that
have their own consequence that we shall face. I know this morals and virtues
will help me build up a character that is better and what really fits me as a
senior high school student that aspires success and happiness in life not only
with material things but also with abundance of love and having a blessed one
for achieving my goals in life.
