My Old School (2022)

My Old School (aka Going Back) review by Mark McPherson - Cinema Paradiso

My Old School is a documentary that tries to build up some mystery by reenacting much of its story in animation and having the story's subject portrayed by actor Alan Cumming. It’s a story in the mid-1990s when Brandon Lee graced a Scottish high school. He soon became a star student and talked about the transfer, having been from Canada and speaking so intelligently about deep topics of the time. Many teenage students gravitated toward him during his time at school. They didn’t know that this fascinating student had a secret: He was 30 years old.

Such a shocking revelation leads to many questions being raised. Namely, how did this happen, and why did nobody question why this guy had the same name as the late actor who died amid production on The Crow? Rather than jump straight to that shocker, this documentary slowly weaves its tale from the perspectives of the students and teachers. They interviewed in a classroom and spoke about their first impressions of Brandon when he first arrived. Recalling those early days, there is some sense of comfort to be had with how openly Brandon spoke, challenged the teachers, and engaged in meaningful friendships with the students.

The stories told through animation have such an engaging element that you almost wish the illusion wasn’t shattered, that Brandon was who he said he was. Sadly, the news was revealed in 1995, and it suddenly made sense why this man was so hesitant to act in a school play where he was expected to kiss another student. As the news reports revealed, the students were shocked and surprised, but most of the signs were there. In particular, one student recalls being in a car with Brandon, where he frantically tried to explain that he had a different license when the possibility of the police pulling him over was present. Of course, being so young, most of the students look back on the event with intrigue and almost amusing speculation on Brandon’s intent and the ethics of his lies. Some remark that he was pretty cool to get away with it. Others feel a bit weird that he kissed a teenage girl. While we learn more about Brandon and his true identity of Brian, much of this man’s aloof nature remains just that.

My Old School is an okay documentary that tries to find the best ways to relay this weird true story. Armed with animation and Alan Cumming, it’s not bad for trying to place the viewer in such an experience of growing up around a fraud. It’s unfortunate, however, that the most that can be brought out of such a movie are a look-how-strange-this-was picture, so playful in addressing the oddness that it could’ve passed as a fake documentary.