The protagonists of David Rane and Neasa Ní Chiánain’s documentary must have seen Peter Weir’s Dead Poets Society more than once. As teachers, John and Amanda Leyden try to be what John Keating was to his students: partners, friends, authorities, and a source of inspiration. The elderly married couple has been working for many years at the only boarding school for elementary-age students in Ireland, out in the idyllic countryside. They’re living legends in the area, having met there many years ago and remaining faithful to the school and its principals to this day. Interestingly, the current principal, a respected, progressive teacher, is one of the Leydens’ former students. The students’ young age is an important aspect of the work’s distinctive nature because it makes John and Amanda, in a sense, both educators and foster parents for the children at Headfort. The filmmakers track a year in the life of the school—a special time, as the Leydens are slowly getting ready to finish their “mission” at the school. All this makes School Life a moving, unpredictable, and very emotional film.