Synopsis
Indianapolis has one of the lowest high school graduation rates in the country. Night School follows three adult students living in the city’s more impoverished neighborhoods as they attempt to earn their diplomas while juggling other difficult responsibilities and realities. Through their stories, the filmmakers explore many issues that low-income Americans deal with, including unjust minimum wage and working conditions, arbitrary legal hindrances, and race and gender inequality.
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Recommendations
- 90
We Got This Covered
Night School exposes the individualism of poverty and the power that education can bring to the powerless. - 83
The Film Stage
Night School is a triumphant and affecting film that explores the issue of inequality beyond the usual political, paternal talking points. - 80
The New York Times
The result is a movie about large setbacks and small triumphs, and the grit that takes you from one to the other. - 80
Village Voice
As an introduction to its arresting, charismatic subjects, Night School is invaluable. - 80
The Hollywood Reporter
Benefiting greatly from its charismatic, likeable subjects, Night School displays a compassion and empathy that feels more necessary than ever. - 80
Los Angeles Times
Cohn’s slickly edited verité-style storytelling lets each person’s humanity rise to the top, just enough to mix expected poignancy with a simple clarity about the struggles of low-income, opportunity-challenged souls. - 75
The A.V. Club
Night School takes the human-interest route instead, and while that doesn’t allow for the most complete vision of the program, it does put a touchingly human face on the movie’s opening statistic—as well as grant a sliver of hope for those 1.2 million American kids who abandon their education every year. - 75
RogerEbert.com
Cohn never turns Night School into a sob story or a manipulative tale of redemption.
