Young Plato

Set in still war-torn Belfast, Young Plato carefully documents headmaster Kevin McArevey’s attempt to place philosophy at the centre of his school, both in terms of the curriculum and a more general approach to education, including conflict resolution. In a community plagued by poverty, drugs and violence, and still haunted by the divisions of the past, the approach taken by McArevey and his dedicated team delivers rich, if incremental, dividends. By placing critical thinking and mutual respect at the centre, the community and their children are empowered to think beyond their boundaries and limitations. The film celebrates the power of philosophy not as an esoteric concept but as an approach to dealing with the challenges of daily life and a way of questioning the mythologies and narratives around war and violence.