Mr. Marsh Comes to School

Part of BFI collection "A Day in the Life."

Comedy actor Reginald Marsh dons the guise of an employment guidance teacher for this docu-drama aimed at illustrating the tough choices being made by young adults about their future after school. There's the outdoor types, the office workers, the folks who want to stay at school for further education and those who like to make things. Some like jobs with other people or animals and some are a bit more creative. Most, well they haven't a clue and many of those who do still want to stay in eduction. The narrative from Marsh tries to indicate just how fluid these choices may need to become when people play to their teenage strengths that maybe aren't that strong afterwards. It plays out a few light-hearted scenarios to demonstrate how tricky finding the right job or career can be and to show the ramifications of choices. Of being independent, responsible, on your own. About the impressions you make or appreciate. Idealistic or realistic for the next 40-odd years? The concept is quite decent but once it's made it's point after about fifteen minutes, it loses it's way and becomes a little repetitive. Still, the basic premiss holds true analysing behavioural traits that exist in all of us and influence not just what we want, but what employers want of us too.