Teachers’ Favorite Flicks
From cinematic classics to modern masterpieces, here are the film recommendations of teachers at Stuyvesant!
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Ms. Zhang
“Alice in Wonderland” (2010)
Fantasy
“There was a quote in the movie that went, ‘All the best people are crazy.’ I really liked it because it made me feel like it’s okay to be unique and strange.” —Hairong Zhang, Mandarin teacher
Mr. Miner
“2001: A Space Odyssey” (1968)
Sci-Fi
“A favorite film of mine is ‘2001: A Space Odyssey (Kubrick 1968)’ because it changed the way I watch movies and has made me a better student of film.” —Thomas Miner, Physics teacher
Mr. Hanna
“Papillon” (1973)
Drama
“I admire the lead character’s unwillingness to quit, to give in. Steve McQueen should have won an Oscar. I also was moved by the unlikely friendship between McQueen’s character and Dustin Hoffman’s character, Louis Degas. In the final scene, on the cliffs at Devil’s Island where they say goodbye for the last time, there is accordion music in the background echoing Paris, which they know neither of them will ever see again. Then McQueen’s character (or a stuntman) jumps into the sea, still trying to escape.” —David Hanna, History teacher
Mr. Grossman
“The Godfather” (1972) and “The Godfather Part II” (1974)
Crime/drama
“Them together as an entity…it’s the best American filmmaking ever.” —Eric Grossman, English Assistant Principal
Ms. Karp
“The Big Lebowski” (1988)
Comedy
“The dialogue is hysterical, it’s so clever and absurd. It’s endlessly quotable, I know many lines from The Big Lebowski.” —Jane Karp, Art teacher
Mx. Stuzin
“Daisies” (1966)
Comedy-drama
“I love the whole concept of two girls playing weird pranks in bourgeois settings and interrogating authoritarianism and the patriarchy. It’s also really funny.” —Lauren Stuzin, English teacher
Ms. Manning
“Harold and Maude” (1971)
Romantic comedy
“It’s a dark comedy. . . I find it to be really quirky.” —Kim Manning, English teacher
Mr. Honner
“The Blues Brothers” (1980)
Musical/Comedy
“It’s hilarious and absurd in every way. It also features one of my favorite songs of all time.” —Patrick Honner, Mathematics teacher