Clockwork Mice

Running time: N/A

In the halls of Cedarwood, the curriculum is the same as we find in every other school; English, Math, History and ... CDT (Children Destroy Teachers)? Okay. So, the curriculum is a little altered to coincide with the special student body of Cedarwood. You see, the student body is comprised of "maladjusted children" and their curriculum is what's known as "Special Need Education". Burnt out by the constant struggle to teach these kids, the teachers of Cedarwood seem to be maladjusted themselves nowadays. That is until the new teacher Steve Drake (Ian Hart, Backbeat) enters the school's classrooms. Mr. Drake seems to have a knack for communicating with these children and a genuine care and respect for their feelings. Slowly, all eyes seem to turn to Mr. Drake as an inspiration, although the faculty seems distraught and reluctant to accept Drake's alternate style of teaching. The students, however, admire their newfound friend, especially Conrad (Ruaidhri Conroy), one of the more maladjusted students who often breaks into violent fits and pulls dangerous stunts. Somehow, Drake seems to be the only one who reaches Conrad, introducing him to poetry and organizing a weekly cross-country running session. But is it enough to stop Conrad from his destructive course? Like Dead Poet's Society, the film Clockwork Mice weaves the tale of a man who cares, yet is never appreciated by his peers. But unlike Dead Poet's, director Vadim Jean is able to successfully balance the point of view of the students versus the teachers and offer an intriguing and inspiring look at a battle against overpowering odds. -- Mike Rabehl