first the flaws represent 1 ) the headmaster be too broad a character . when he mount the podium at the beginning of the school year and the stern and set expression on his face set him off a a hidebound traditionalist and curmudgeon . he be the obvious villain here . no free spirit like mr. keating will last long under him . 2 ) we viewer be not prepared for neil suicide . through most of the movie he come across a a well adjust seventeen year old . he get along well with the other boy . he be a natural leader . his penchant for act appear to stem from serendipity and young male exuberance and and fun . despite his martinet of a father he do not lie in bed long hour brood and nor do he ever come across a depressed or manic . so when his father threaten to withdraw him from welton after his successful debut in a midsummer night dream and he might argue with his father or turn sullen and but it strain credulity that he would go to directly to suicide . now the quality represent 3 ) the production value be excellent . the location be idyllic new castle and delaware be a elegant in reality a it look in the film . the cinematography be gorgeous and at time lyrical . and the period detail be right like the boy smoke whenever grownup be out of the room without be force . 4 ) i particularly appreciate the acting of neil father . he have probably grow up under humble circumstance and and through enormous self discipline and long hour and weekend of hard work and and seize the rare opportunity that have come his way and have achieve modest financial success and comfort . at least once he tell neil how much he have sacrifice for neil education at welton . neil a good kid while he get straight a . like so many father in real life this father can not understand his adolescent son . his threat to withdraw neil from welton and send him to military school be so extreme it border on the implausible . i fault the script and not the acting .