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Amos Lassen wrote on 12/09/2008:

“Summer Heights High”

Touching and Very Funny

Amos Lassen

HBO seems to have yet another hit with “Summer Heights High”, a mockumentary which follows three different people who attend the school, Summer Heights High. Now it is available for all of us to see on DVD. We meet Jonah, a 13 year old from Tonga who is dealing with several issues. He has no respect for his teachers, he curses a lot and spends his spare time writing graffiti. He has some joy in developing his personal story for Gamnut College. Ja’mie is a transfer student from an upper class school which is nothing like Summer Heights High, an average public school. She manages to become a member of a group of girls and seems to be constantly looking down on everyone as she attempts to organize activities to raise school spirit. Then there is Mr. G, a somewhat eccentric and feminine drama teacher who uses odd methods to get his ideas across. He is producing a new musical called “Annabel” about ecstasy.
As we follow these characters, we are with them in their good times and their failures. The show is extremely funny am it is an Australian import. The show is a satiric approach to the school system and we see boys who use drugs and “perverts” and sex.
Some may find the language to be somewhat offensive and some of the description to be a bit too vivid but I found it all to be very enjoyable. The show consists of eight episodes and was written and created by Chris Lilly, an Australian actor who gives an amazing performance. It is set in a real school in Australia and uses real students and faculty members. Although it is a bit difficult at first to follow, this ceases to be a problem as the series continues.