Mr. Holland’s Opus is a film about a musician, Mr. Holland, who wants to compose a symphony; however, he must instead begin teaching at John F. Kennedy High School to ensure financial safety for his pregnant wife and soon-to-be newborn son. Mr. Holland initially believes that his new teaching position will allow him a plethora of free time to focus on his aforementioned passion project—to compose—but very quickly realizes that teaching is a full-time job, not a part time one. Mr. Holland initially stumbles in his efforts to teach an apathetic group of students; however, in his interactions tutoring a a persistent, passionate, but struggling clarinet player, Gertrude Lang, he discovers that perhaps the reason why his students were apathetic
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Holland had a profound influence on my life and on a lot of lives I know. But I have a feeling that he considers a great part of his own life misspent. Rumor had it he was always working on this symphony of his. And this was going to make him famous, rich, probably both. But Mr. Holland isn't rich and he isn't famous, at least not outside of our little town. So it might be easy for him to think himself a failure. But he would be wrong, because I think that he's achieved a success far beyond riches and fame. Look around you. There is not a life in this room that you have not touched, and each of us is a better person because of you. We are your symphony Mr. Holland. We are the melodies and the notes of your opus. We are the music of your life.
Gertrude’s speech makes Mr. Holland realize that, despite never composing the symphony of his dreams, he did make a meaningful impact on a countless number of lives. Holistically, Gertrude supplied two emotional necessities, both pivotal in advancing the film’s plot, to Mr. Holland: a newfound purpose to teach, via his observance of her passion to learn, and fulfillment, via her speech before the movie’s ending scene. Gertrude Lang begins the movie as Mr. Holland’s untalented student, but she ends not only as his most accomplished student but also as his most influential
Holland had a profound influence on my life and on a lot of lives I know. But I have a feeling that he considers a great part of his own life misspent. Rumor had it he was always working on this symphony of his. And this was going to make him famous, rich, probably both. But Mr. Holland isn't rich and he isn't famous, at least not outside of our little town. So it might be easy for him to think himself a failure. But he would be wrong, because I think that he's achieved a success far beyond riches and fame. Look around you. There is not a life in this room that you have not touched, and each of us is a better person because of you. We are your symphony Mr. Holland. We are the melodies and the notes of your opus. We are the music of your life.
Gertrude’s speech makes Mr. Holland realize that, despite never composing the symphony of his dreams, he did make a meaningful impact on a countless number of lives. Holistically, Gertrude supplied two emotional necessities, both pivotal in advancing the film’s plot, to Mr. Holland: a newfound purpose to teach, via his observance of her passion to learn, and fulfillment, via her speech before the movie’s ending scene. Gertrude Lang begins the movie as Mr. Holland’s untalented student, but she ends not only as his most accomplished student but also as his most influential