The Last Class

Greetings again from the darkness. It seems somewhere along the way intelligence has fallen out of favor. However, I continue to be fascinated by deep thinkers who share their knowledge and ideas. One such man is Robert Reich, and this documentary from Elliot Kirschner provides a worthy look at a man who has not only been an integral part of United States politics for decades, he has also spent 42 years as what he terms 'a professional teacher.'

Mr. Reich has served in the administrations of four U. S. Presidents: Ford, Carter, Clinton, and Obama. Many disagree with his politics, yet what sets Reich apart is that he welcomes disagreements and debate ... and experienced quite a bit of both as Secretary of Labor from 1993 through 1997. For those who stand opposed to his political views, you should know this is an intimate look at the man, not his political beliefs. Specifically, filmmaker Kirschner follows Reich during his final semester as a professor of "Wealth and Poverty" at Cal-Berkeley. The class has approximately 1000 students, bringing his career total to around 40,000 students whom he has taught.

We see him teaching in front of the auditorium's massive screen, and we see him being interviewed in his office ... an office that's more of a museum of his career, filled with memorabilia of a life well lived. Reich states that he has but two goals for his students: encouraging them to think critically while questioning everything and finding a way to improve the world. In a moment of naked truth, he admits his frustration with the typical students who absorb data and then regurgitate for a grade. He views emotion as a necessity.

Reich, like most of us, worries about the dangers of misinformation. His graphs detail the ramifications of inequality and a lack of engagement. Reich is 79 years old and is a published author many times over. A genetic disorder limited his physical growth, contrasting sharply with his world class mental development. He's an extremely thoughtful man, whose first class of the semester blasts "Respect" by Aretha Franklin, while the final class features warm applause from students who likely won't appreciate what they've been fortunate enough to experience until years later.

In select theaters beginning June 27, 2025.

The Last Class captures the final semester in the distinguished 40+ year teaching career of Robert Reich, former U. S. Secretary of Labor under the Clinton Administration. Despite a long list of professional accolades, it is clear that Reich's true passion has always been teaching. Filmmakers Elliot Kirschner and Heather Kinlaw Lofthouse deliver a surprisingly emotional and intimate portrait of this pivotal moment-not just the closing of a chapter, but the beginning of a new one. For Reich-known affectionately as "Bob"-retirement doesn't signal an end to his mission, but rather a continuation of his lifelong commitment to exposing economic inequality and advocating for a more just America. Lofthouse, who produced the film, also serves as Executive Producer of Inequality Media and the Inequality Media Civic Action group, two key platforms through which Reich continues his work.

The film portrays Robert Reich not as the well-known public figure, but as a passionate and deeply committed teacher. It skillfully balances his confidence with moments of professional vulnerability, revealing the human side of a man who has spent decades in both academia and public service. Reich's teaching goes beyond delivering information-he inspires his students to cultivate curiosity and embrace critical thinking. He emphasizes that one of the foundations of a healthy democracy is civic participation, and that nurturing the next generation of thoughtful leaders begins in the classroom. For Reich, the process of understanding a problem-through careful analysis and reflection-is more important than simply arriving at the correct answer on a test. He encourages his students to look beyond surface-level data and ask what it truly reveals about deeper issues. Above all, he fosters a classroom culture of dialogue and self-reflection, reminding students that real leadership doesn't require authority-it requires insight, empathy, and the courage to think independently.

Director Elliot Kirschner and editor Josh Melrod skillfully bring an energetic rhythm to The Last Class, matching Robert Reich's enthusiasm with brisk pacing and thoughtful editing. Kirschner has acknowledged that, for a documentary of this scale, they didn't shoot an extensive amount of footage-making Melrod's task of assembling the final product all the more impressive. What began without the clear intention of becoming a feature-length film evolved into one through the strength of its material and the direction taken in post-production. Viewers will appreciate the creative visual touches, such as lingering shots of students' footwear and sidewalks-symbolic nods to youth, individuality, and the grassroots foundations of civic participation. With the recent success of Inequality Media's short-form content across platforms like YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram, there was ongoing discussion about whether a traditional feature-length documentary would resonate with younger audiences. Even after its New York premiere, that question remains. Yet, the film's timely themes-cultural and economic inequality, civic engagement, and the future of democracy-are powerful and relevant enough to draw in a diverse audience of cinephiles, students, and socially curious viewers into independent and arthouse theaters across the country.

The music, curated by Heather Guibert, adds a lively and jazz-infused layer to the film's atmosphere. Featuring licensed tracks from a wide range of influential musicians, the soundtrack brings both emotional depth and kinetic energy to the storytelling. Its rhythms help drive the film's pacing and create seamless transitions between scenes. The creative spirit of Robert Reich's lectures is beautifully mirrored in the freeform improvisation of the jazz, reinforcing the film's themes of intellectual curiosity and dynamic learning. The result is a soundtrack that not only enhances the viewing experience but also reflects the vitality and momentum of the students at UC Berkeley.

Reich's near-sermonic lectures and candid backstage reflections offer reassurance that the next generation-at least figuratively-is indeed "alright," and that there is still reason to hope for a better future. Yet, he doesn't shy away from the complexities of the current moment, acknowledging that while today's challenges may differ from those of the past, the urgency for what he calls "hopeful pessimism" over outright cynicism has never been greater. It's this balance-of realism and idealism-that defines both Reich's teaching style and the film's emotional core. One especially fitting musical choice, a track Reich frequently uses to jolt his students awake, comes from none other than Aretha Franklin. Her anthem "Respect" serves as an unofficial headline for Reich's remarkable teaching career-a legacy built on compassion, conviction, and an unwavering respect for the power of knowledge and dialogue.