How to Cheat in the Leaving Certificate
| How to Cheat in the Leaving Certificate | |
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 Garret Baker in How to Cheat in the Leaving Certificate | |
| Directed by | Graham Jones |
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| Written by |
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Release dates |
April 17, 1998 (Ireland) October 4, 1997 (USA) |
Running time | 80 Minutes |
How to Cheat in the Leaving Certificate (1998) is an independent Irish film directed by Graham Jones, in which six teenagers devise a plan to cheat in their Leaving Certificate final school examinations. The film was shot in black and white on Super 16mm. After being hailed by critics it was blown up to 35mm for theatrical distribution. Many well known Irish faces made cameo appearances and some commentators regard the 2004 American film, The Perfect Score, as a remake.[1]
Plot
Upon being caught cheating in his Leaving Certificate exam and being banned from sitting the exam for another three years, a young man commits suicide. A close friend of his subsequently plots to cheat in his own Leaving Certificate in order to get revenge against the system. With the help of a rag-tag group of friends this young man organizes a complex scheme to steal copies of the test papers from the Department of Education and, upon winning, show the world he has beaten the system.
Controversy
A few weeks before the film went on general release in Ireland, the Junior Minister for Education, Willie O'Dea, explicitly condemned the film, leading to widespread coverage in newspapers, television, and radio.[2] In part, anxiety was due to the timing of the film's release, which occurred a few months before the annual summer exams. Other projects by Graham Jones such as Fudge 44 and Traveller Wedding have also caused controversy.
Music
I Hear You Breathing In from Eleanor McEvoy's debut album, Eleanor McEvoy and Parachute by Something Happens are some of the tracks featured in the film.
References
External links
- How To Cheat In The Leaving Certificate at the Internet Movie Database
- Critic reviews at tadhg.com
- The film itself via Graham Jones' official website