The History Boys: The Film – Alan Bennett, Nicholas Hytner

In The History Boys: The Film, a lively group of sixth-form boys at a British school are eager to navigate the complexities of adolescence: sex, sport, and securing a place at university. They are guided by an array of eccentric educators—an unruly English teacher, a savvy supply teacher, a headmaster obsessed with results, and a history teacher who is unsure of his own worth.

Alan Bennett’s screenplay delves into the heart of education, questioning its true purpose and how history should be taught. As the boys clash with their teachers, the dynamics in the classroom explore the meaning of learning, the conflict between tradition and progress, and the relationships that define youth.

Directed by Nicholas Hytner, this film adaptation brings the National Theatre’s award-winning stage production to the screen, with Bennett’s sharp wit and insightful dialogue at its core.