School of Lies review: The show revolves around the case of a missing child in a fictional boarding school that houses many secrets.
School of Lies begins with the premonition of danger and unrest. A senior student has injured his toe, and his classmate helps him in the washroom. It is evident that this occurs quite late at night- the school corridors, hallways, and even the washroom is empty. So when, a junior catches them inside, he is instantly seen as a threat. This is how the new Disney + Hotstar show School of Lies, created by Avinash Arun Dhaware wants its audience to navigate the story, with a sense of intrigue and suspense enmeshed into the proceedings. Does it succeed? Patience is key, as the case rests in this 8 episode-long series that you will have to survive to know.
The fundamental template of School of Lies is to tell a story about neglect, loneliness, abuse and mental health that begins at a young age- but through the prism of suspense and intrigue. The question is, do I provide my viewer with the chance to create their own opinion through a position of reserve, or do I imply on certain conclusions without really trying to ask why? School of Lies, unfortunately falls on the latter end of this argument. It is in fact, not interested in what happens to Shakti, rather creating the mystery surrounding him like a narrative scapegoat to prioritize negligence, abuse, and trauma of the people involved. From the first episode itself, the doubt falls on Vikram and TK, and there is no enigma left when the truth finally reveals itself. It was predictable miles ago. That's not the point- the show reasons. Then, it goes on to show in elaborate detail what happened to Shakti and the consequences of that horrifying act. There was no point in spoon-feeding the audience either.
Then there's Nimrat Kaur's counselor asking unnecessary questions like do the students face bullying if they break the rules. No, they get badges of honour. The police warns that in most kidnapping cases the child is not found again. Their only job in School of Lies is to appear with a bunch of questions when someone looks tired enough with the constant interrogation, and then disappear. The later episodes struggle to maintain any control over the ever widening narrative loopholes. For starters, how is no one from the police team able to track the gardener even after getting to know that his son was seen with Shakti? What happened to the blackmailing gambit? Where are the children who were found hidden in the shed? No evidences were found from the security cameras? Why throw in a manipulative queer angle in the mix? School of Lies makes a good case for trauma dumping, without an iota of sensitivity and nuance. The more questions you ask, the more it becomes bitter.
By the end, School of Lies reminded me of Russian filmmaker Andrey Zvyagintsev's haunting film Loveless. There, a missing child case draws back to his separated parents, and in turn presents a bleak portrait of a nation seething mercilessly with anger. School of Lies could have benefitted with some of that awareness and foreboding as a parable for an increasingly selfish society.
School of Lies released on Disney+ Hotstar on June 2.
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