Cast
Documentary; students and staff of a Philadelphia high school
Credits
Cinematography: Richard Leiterman
Editing: 
Frederick Wiseman
Produced by: Frederick Wiseman
Plot
Frederick Wiseman's 1968 documentary observes a high school in Philadelphia, Northeast High, over several weeks. There is no narration or music, only classes, meetings, corridors and discipline sessions, in which teachers and students are shown in their daily routines. The film is a cornerstone of observational documentary, and a revealing study of authority and conformity in American education.
Sinekatalog’s take
Frederick Wiseman's documentary observes Northeast High in Philadelphia with no narration or music. Matter-of-fact and quietly damning, it reveals a school of rules and conformity, a landmark of direct cinema.Sinekatalog’s own editorial review – not a user or critic quote.
Ratings
IMDb: 7.5 / 10 (2,809 votes)
IMDb rating and vote count from the IMDb ratings dataset (October 2026). Scores change over time.
If you liked this
Picked by director, genre, era and shared cast. Titles only, no spoilers.
- Titicut Follies 1967 · Frederick Wiseman · IMDb 7.7 · Same director
- Hospital 1970 · Frederick Wiseman · IMDb 7.9 · Same director
- Le joli mai 1963 · Chris Marker · IMDb 7.8 · Same movement
- Land of Silence and Darkness 1971 · Werner Herzog · IMDb 7.9 · Same movement
- F for Fake 1973 · Orson Welles · IMDb 7.7 · Similar genres
- World Without Sun 1964 · Jacques Cousteau · IMDb 7.4 · Same movement