School Portrait - A short film by Nick Scott

A teacher gathers students for something different, calling it a reality check and asking them to repeat phrases after him.

• University tuition fees are a financial burden • The banking crisis makes homeownership unaffordable • Climate change is a persistent problem • There is no pet heaven • Pocket money is not guaranteed; hard work is required

A student named Lally continues smiling despite the teacher's attempts to get them to stop and take the lesson seriously.

The teacher expresses exasperation at the student's persistent smiling and inability to maintain a serious demeanor during the reality check exercise.

The teacher reveals that 60% of marriages end in divorce.

Two people meet and get along well, but gradually grow apart until one of them leaves, taking belongings, the house, and possibly the children.

The teacher's tone becomes increasingly somber as he describes the consequences of divorce, with long pauses emphasizing the gravity of the situation.

Despite the serious topic, the student still refuses to stop smiling, frustrating the teacher further.

The teacher, acknowledging he has more time, encourages the student to give their best shot at the exercise.

The student sarcastically suggests they can always get a new house and that their mom could become single.

The teacher accepts this response and asks the student to keep him posted on their future.

The film ends with the student having internalized the cynical lessons, showing that the reality check exercise has worked, albeit in an unexpectedly dark way.