My Old School

Brandon, Alan Cumming, takes center stage as My Old School traces his Bearsden years and the ensuing outing that sent shockwaves through the media. The film unfolds in chronological order, laying out how classmates remember him as older in appearance and with a deeper voice, and how a seemingly small detail—sharing the enrolment name with Bruce Lee’s son, Brandon—becomes the thread that unravels a much larger lie. A former teacher explains that Brandon’s skin looked older after a car crash, while a Black pupil recounts experiences of racism and violence at the school, noting that Brandon remained a trusted friend who helped with homework.

Nicola, Natalie Mcconnon, anchors the present-day perspective as McKinnon’s classmates and teachers recollect the 1970s through a mosaic of recollections. The narrative is carried by a chorus of voices—Joe McFadden as Mr MacLeod among them—who speak from what they remember in classrooms, corridors, and after-school conversations. Interwoven with these interviews are classroom-set recreations that breathe new life into Bearsden’s halls, offering a documentary feel that gradually blurs the line between memory and myth.

To complement the talking heads, the film uses cartoon recreations voiced by Clare Grogan and Lulu. These sequences add texture to the story—parlaying a pop soundtrack into stylized, almost MTV-era visuals that echo the late-70s mood without sacrificing clarity. The cartoons help illustrate key moments—whether a school production, a social maneuver, or a moment of personal doubt—while keeping the tone measured and contemplative.

One focal point is the school production of South Pacific, where Brandon played Lieutenant Cable. He was a capable singer with a suitable accent, and his on-stage charisma boosted his status among peers. A charged memory centers on a kiss with his 16-year-old co-star, described with mixed feelings by those present: some recall reluctance in rehearsals, while others insist “no tongues!” The film revisits that moment in adulthood, letting the adult co-star revisit the scene with a rueful humor that underscores the change in perspective over time.

As the story moves forward, the documentary reveals the implications of Brandon’s choices. He returns to the classroom seeking a medical path, because at that era, pursuing medicine after thirty was considered unlikely; by repeating exams and refocusing his aims, he hopes to gain entry to medical school. He eventually enters Dundee University’s School of Medicine but drops out, and a circle of friends later visit to ask why — the evasive explanation shifts as the broader truth emerges. A key turning point arrives when the head teacher presents the 1975 report card, which shows top grades and hints at the pressure Brandon faced to prove himself.

The film then reexamines the family dynamics that shaped the public narrative. It is revealed that the “grandmother” Brandon confided in is alive and, in reality, his mother. The earlier battles—whether it was a fight on holiday, the police involvement, or the rumored two passports—are reassessed as rumors rather than factual events. The revelation reframes the questions surrounding whether his grandmother truly knew what was going on, since she had arranged calls to the school about his father’s death and even pretended to be his gran for a physics test. Nicola and the others begin to sense the deeper arc of Brandon’s life and the gaps in what the public was told at the time.

Near the end, the film shows footage from the school play that none of the participants had seen before. The performance underscores the unsettling mix of charm and unease that followed Brandon, and the adult actors who once watched him realize how the story has shifted in the retelling. The procession of memories closes in on the quiet, unresolved questions about his long-term plans: whether he continued to pursue medical school and how his life might have looked if the truth had been told earlier. The peers featured in the documentary have moved into their adult lives—some with families, some advancing in their careers—while Brandon remains a figure who embodies longing, resilience, and the persistent lure of a past that refuses to stay buried.

In its final notes, the film suggests that Brandon may have chosen to try again, perhaps even altering his appearance. The closing images juxtapose the present with the past, leaving viewers to weigh the costs of secrets kept and the costs of honesty finally faced.

Last Updated: October 03, 2025 at 20:07