Successful orchestra conductor Pierre Morhange (played by Jacques Perrin) returns to his hometown in France from the US after being informed about the death of his mother. He reminisces about his childhood inspirations when he and his boyhood friend read the diary of their old music teacher, Clement Mathieu.

Back in 1949, young and mischievous Pierre was attending a boarding school for "difficult" boys, Fond de l'Etang (translated as "bottom of the pond") presided over by the strict headmaster Mr. Rachin. New music teacher Mathieu tries to brighten up the school and organizes a choir, in hopes of getting closer to and touching the hearts of these troublesome boys. Mathieu soon discovers unconventional musical talents in Pierre. But, having grown up in a single-parent environment, Pierre is sensitive, solitary and refuses to cooperate with others. The music teacher then gives his all to help the prodigy's talent blossom.

2. Joe Somebody

Joe Scheffer (played by Tim Allen) is a talented audio/visual specialist at a pharmaceutical company. After confronting his co-worker, McKinney, with his wrongdoings and being assaulted in return, Joe falls into a state of depression until a woman ignites a fuse in a fit of frustration by asking him "What do you want?" This is a wakeup call for Joe and he decides he wants to reclaim his dignity and self-respect, which was originally taken away after his confrontation with McKinney. Joe begins training with a former B-rated film star turned martial arts instructor to win against McKinney in a fight. Right before the brawl, Joe hesitates and questions whether it is immature to fight, and whether the price he would have to pay is worth it. Will he go on as planned, or pull back from the fight?

3. Freedom writers

The first job Erin Gruwell (played by Hilary Swank) takes is to teach a painstaking class at Wilson School. These students live their lives to the fullest in the most negative way imaginable and regard school as a playground to enjoy before turning 18. What's more, students from different races and social backgrounds in the class often gang up and fight among each other. Erin tries to alleviate the hatred in the students and ease the hostility in her class. However, as a Caucasian teacher, there is an invisible wall between Erin and her students. With a copy of The Diary of Anne Frank in her hands and a humble mind, Erin tries her best to lead her students towards the beacon of light and brighter futures.

4. Mona Lisa Smile

Despite the great leap in the social status of American women in the 1950s, the most important thing most female students had on their minds was how to find a good husband, even at the prestigious Wellesley College. Professors were not encouraging active thinking and didn't stress the growth of their students' minds. Katherine Ann Watson (played by Julia Roberts), a newly graduated art history teacher at Wellesley, believes otherwise. Under Katherine's leadership, some of her students gradually began to show their true selves, some reaping high in career aspirations and others wanting to live life of their own. However, the news of the engagement of another female student breaks the free atmosphere Katherine had created.

5. Dead Poets Society

Most seniors at Welton Academy, a conservative and aristocratic school in the northeastern US, dream of continuing their academic dreams at other prestigious institutions. The appearance of John Keating, an English teacher, has completely upturned the stern and mechanical teaching styles at Welton. Keating led the students to listen to the sound of the dead and reflect on the meaning of life. In his class, the boys read out loud their true inspirations. They break the stereotype and stand on their tables to look at the world from a new angle. Keating's free-flowing and philosophical thoughts resonate deeply in the students. They gradually learn to think, search and pursue their life journeys.

6. Cinema Paradiso

The story centers on six-year-old Salvatore, the mischievous and intelligent young son of a war widow. The boy discovers a love for films and spends almost every free moment at the movie house – Cinema Paradiso, where he develops a close relationship with a fatherly projectionist, Alfredo. Thirty years later, a grown-up Salvatore, now a successful film director himself, returns to town after the passing of Alfredo. Looking at the dilapidated Cinema Paradiso, once a place that housed his dreams, a sense of sorrow surrounds him and memories of his time with Alfredo flash back.

7. Music of the heart

This is a story of a woman's self-realization. Violinist Roberta's (played by Meryl Streep) life is shattered into pieces after the betrayal of her husband. For so many years, she sacrificed her own career to travel and be with her husband, who is a navy officer. Now, everything disappears into bubbles. She has to find the strength to stand firmly on the ground, make ends meet and raise her two young children. Aside from talent, resilience and 50 violins she collected, Roberta had nothing. She couldn't do anything else but teach children to play violin, but doubts from those around her weighed heavily on her shoulders. Despite all that, Roberta's passion for music inspired her students and transformed into beautiful music in New York's most dangerous neighborhood. People stopped to listen, and Roberta had made it through, or so it seems.

8. Good Will Hunting

Math professor Gerald Lambeau of Massachusetts Institute of Technology presents a difficult math question to his graduate class and no one knows how to solve it. Will Hunting (Matt Damon), a young janitor, answers the question anonymously and shocks the entire class. Will spends his free time drinking with his best friend, Chuckie (Ben Affleck), getting into fights and troubling  the police from time to time. When Lambeau discovers the math prodigy, he persuades him to not let his talents go to waste. The professor introduces many therapists to Will, but no one seems able to unlock the key to his heart until he's introduced to Lambeau's college friend and current psychologist Dr. Sean Maguire (played by Robin Williams). Under Maguire's guidance, Will gradually opens up, and a conversation with Chuckie lets him suddenly see the light and his true purpose of life.

9. School of Rock

Dewey Finn (Jack Black) is a middle-aged rocker who is still working to pursue his dreams. He detests commercial music that's mass-produced and wants to make true rock'n'roll that'll touch real people. For this, he's formed many bands, struggles to pay his bills and may even be kicked out of his rented room. Dewey's roommate and old friend Ned Schneebly (Mike White) used to be a hardcore fan of death rock, but shed off that image through the years. Now, Ned is a "good man" and works as a substitute teacher. One day, when Dewey is hanging around the house, he receives a phone call from a high school that asks Ned to substitute for a class. The bored and poor Dewey, in a flash of a mind, decided to fake it as "Ned" and take that role. The stagnant attitudes of the students at the stoic school bores Dewey until he discovers the musical talents in the children. Under his leadership, these students who only knew how to read and study in the past, venture into the world of rock'n'roll and endless fun.

10. Rosso come il cielo ("Red like the sky")

How can a blind child become Europe's best sound editor?

Miguel was born in Tuscany and loved films from childhood. In a horrible accident, heaven took the light from his eyes and pushed him into the world of darkness, forever. Under a new law, Miguel could only study at a special school designated for the blind, until one day, his life is transformed at the discovery of an old recorder. Regrettably, the world, including the headmaster of Miguel's school, think that the blind should not hold "unattainable" and unrealistic dreams. But that doesn't kill Miguel's passion for sounds. This is a new definition on the aspirations and abilities of the visually disabled.