Summer Heights High

2007

Seasons & Episodes

  • 1
  • 0

8.5| 0h30m| TV-MA| en
Synopsis

Exploring what happens over one school term in an average Australian high school, this mockumentary brings to life Jonah, a 13 year old mischievous schoolboy from Tonga with the odds stacked against him; Mr G, an ego-driven drama teacher with delusional showbiz dreams; and Ja’mie, a private schoolgirl on a student exchange, set to make her mark on Summer Heights High.

Director

Producted By

Princess Pictures

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Trailers & Clips

Also starring Asolima Tauati

Also starring Kristy Barnes Cullen

Reviews

Softwing Most undeservingly overhyped movie of all time??
GazerRise Fantastic!
FirstWitch A movie that not only functions as a solid scarefest but a razor-sharp satire.
Erica Derrick By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.
morrison-dylan-fan With Easter coming up I started looking for films/TV shows that friends would enjoy watching over the holiday season. After hearing from a friend about how much she has enjoyed visiting family in Australia,I began looking for Aussie films/TV,and I remembered an Aussie TV Comedy program that I heard praised when shown on the BBC,which led to me attending the Summer school.View on the program:Going to school to play all three leading roles, Chris Lilley gives outstanding performances as Mr. G, Ja'mie and Jonah Takalua. Finely-tuning the characters in his stand-up gigs for years, Lilley keeps any of the trio from blending in with each other via unique characteristic, from the delusional aggression of Drama teacher Mr. G and the juvenile frustrations and swearing of teenager Takalua,to it-girl snub Ja'mie. Spending time doing research in real schools, the scripts by Lilley find hilarity by pushing realistic school situations out of their comfort zone,as Mr.G's ego goes wild over his grandiose staging of a show based on the recent drug overdose of a student,Ja'mie making posters with her real view on her new "friends",and Jonah disrupting every class. Following the trio at school, director Stuart McDonald goes for a fake documentary-style,which along with placing the show in a grounded atmosphere, also gives the jokes a richness,thanks to McDonald capturing all the awkward reactions at each lesson of Summer Heights High.
Beanie72 Thank you Australia and Chris Lilley for creating the funniest show on television!!!!!!I saw Summer Heights High on HBO, here in the states and I thought "This looks dumb". Dumbest thought ever. This is the funniest show. The realism, the quirkiness, the pure genius of Lilley! It honestly feels like a real documentary- only freaking hilarious. I cannot even pick a favorite character, they are all so hilariously brilliant in their own way! And I love how Lilley used non-actors because it just made the sense of realism even greater. But the characters themselves are relatable! Everyone knows a Ja'mie, a Mr G, and a Jonah. Maybe they are exaggerated but we all know them. If your like me and your not sure whether to watch it....WATCH IT! You will NOT regret it, that is unless your sense of humor is unfortunate.
miriam_eryan Taking a Borat approach to High School here is a tongue-in-cheek series brilliantly directed and performed by Chris Lilley. In a hilarious no-holds barred representation of 'school these days – with boys and perves and sex and drugs (where) it's not like it used to be ...' Lilley's theatrical vividness comes to life. Three characters equivalently blunt in their opinions co-exist at Summer Heights High School. The three main characters all acted by Lilley; Mr G – the eccentric, 'camp' drama teacher, Jonah Takalua the Polynesian school scapegoat and smart-arse and Ja'mie the pretentious and elitist Hilford Girls exchange student all guarantee a laugh in the series. This is a satirical look at public schools, 'the worst place in Australia, where you can go get anorexia.' Playing on various truths and myths about public education, the school has all the necessary ingredients to prove microcosmic of schools today. There is Mr G's drama production, where a school play is written, directed and performed about the dangers of public education, discrimination towards Jonah and attitude to counter attacks made on him. There is also discrimination in Mr G's casting of his play towards disabled and less talented children , and bitchiness within Ja'mie's friendship group of 'public school skanks,' as well as the typical unruly classroom environment created by the class clown - Jonah. The show offers a students view of school as we know it. Though satirical, it makes a serious point about the need for change in public schools and public perception of public schools as seen through Ja'mie's character. Mr G in his musical production composes the song 'School these days –(stating) you'd have to be a fool these days, to wanna go to school these days.' Just one of the many musical scores bound to sound in your head for days and even months after viewing the series. This is a show that resonates with its audience while having us in stitches. With the suggestion of it being integrated into schools' syllabus, it may also stitch up school wrongs in time to save nine before a 'puck you with a P' revolution. For those who can't handle the candor of the series, in the words of Ja'mie, need to 'learn what a sense of humour is and just build a bridge and get over it.' This is a must see for adults and children alike.
LoneWolfAndCub Chris Lilley is a comedic genius. His first series, "We Can Be Heroes" was a excellent slice of humour and realistic satire. He has pulled it off again with Summer Heights High, a mockumentary following three different people who attend the high school Summer Heights High.We have Jonah, probably the most loved character, a 13 year old boy from Tonga who has some big issues. He has no respect for his teachers and he constantly swears and graffitis. His only joy seems to come from Gumnut College where is is developing his own personal story.Ja'mie is a transfer student from Hillford Girls Grammar School, an extremely upper class school which is totally different from SHH, which is your average public school. She befriends a group of girls and is constantly looking down on everyone and trying to organize events that will lift school spirit.Finally, there is Mr. G (my personal favourite), an eccentric and very feminine Drama teacher. His methods are odd, he is extremely full of himself and his new musical "Annabel: The Musical" is about ecstasy.We follow these characters and all their misfortunes and aspirations. The show is always funny but it is always realistic. It captures everything perfectly from the state of public schools (no offense), students with ADD, what people from private school are like and how teachers cope with hardships. Chris Lilley is an immensely talented man and I cannot wait to see what he does next.5/5