In an English boys' boarding school, social hierarchy reigns supreme and power remains in the hands of distanced and ineffectual teachers and callously vicious prefects in the Upper Sixth. Three Lower Sixth students, Wallace, Johnny and leader Mick Travis decide on a shocking course of action to redress the balance of privilege once and for all.
A surreal and satirical look at the English public school system. Mick Travis and his two friends at a traditional boarding school become increasingly disillusioned with the institution's oppressive rules and rituals. Their rebellion escalates from minor acts of defiance to a violent, anarchic uprising that culminates in a bloody confrontation.
Lindsay Anderson's 'if....' was a landmark of British counterculture cinema, lauded for its bold anti-establishment themes and avant-garde style. While divisive at the time for its explicit portrayal of rebellion and violence, it has since been recognized as a groundbreaking work that captured the zeitgeist of the late 1960s, influencing subsequent films about youth rebellion and institutional critique. Its visual flair and provocative narrative earned it significant critical acclaim, though some found its message overly nihilistic.
Google audience: Viewers praise 'if....' for its innovative filmmaking and its powerful critique of oppressive institutions, often calling it a visionary and thought-provoking film. Some note its surreal elements and violent climax as particularly impactful, while others appreciate its enduring relevance in discussing conformity and rebellion.
Won the Palme d'Or at the 1969 Cannes Film Festival.
The iconic imagery of Malcolm McDowell and other students firing machine guns from the school's roof was inspired by a real-life incident at an English boarding school where students reportedly fired shotguns from rooftops during a period of unrest.
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