YOUNG PLATO charts the dream of Elvis-loving headmaster Kevin McArevey – a maverick who is determined to change the fortunes of the inner-city community where he works. The all-boys primary school becomes a hot house for questioning violence, as the headmaster sends his young wards home each day armed with the wisdom of the ancient Greek philosophers. The boys challenge their parents and neighbours to forsake the prejudice that has kept this low-level civil war on the boil for decades. YOUNG PLATO hums with the confidence of youth, a tribute to the power of the possible.

This poignant and humorous film illustrates how critical thinking and pastoral care empower and encourage children to see beyond boundaries and limitations. We see how philosophy encourages the young boys to question the mythologies of war and of violence, and sometimes to challenge the narratives their parents, peers and socio-economic group dictate.

Against a seemingly hopeless backdrop of crime, substance abuse, and the despair of the streets, (reflected in the suicide rates for young men and boys – one of the highest in Europe), this inspiring headmaster is changing the narrative, helping the children of Holy Cross Boys School and the wider community to find hope and purpose. It seems inconceivable, but the answer lies in the wisdom of the ancients: the philosophical teachings of Socrates, Plato and Aristotle.

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