A young, white teacher is assigned to an isolated island off the coast of South Carolina populated mostly by poor black families. He finds that the basically illiterate, neglected children there know so little of the world outside their island.
The potentially dubious aspects of the subject are mostly exorcised, in part by a strong script (adapted from the book by real-life teacher Pat Conroy), but largely by the engaging and persuasive performance Ritt draws from Voight.
– ,
Time Out,
9 Feb 2006
rotten:
It misses by less than a mile, but it misses.
– Don Druker,
Chicago Reader,
1 Jan 2000
fresh:
Despite Mr. Voight's skill, the teacher's character never jells.
– Nora Sayre,
New York Times,
9 May 2005
fresh:
Few will totally resist the surefire appeal of this latest variation on Pygmalion mythology.
– Variety Staff,
Variety,
14 Jan 2008
rotten:
The spirit behind Conrack is so relentlessly idealistic in tone and uplifting in intent that one feels vaguely guilty for not responding to the film generously and forgivingly.