Cross&Max scene

Max, being a 15-year-old Rushmore student, brings Rosemary a feeling of affinity and regard and reminds her of her deceased husband, a former Rushmore student. Feeling upset by the death of her husband, Rosemary becomes a teacher in Rushmore to look for traces of him. Rosemary and Max talk about smoking, schools, and finally Latin, leading to a metaphoric dialogue in Latin: "Nihilo sanctum estne(is nothing sacred)?" says Rosemary; "Sic transit gloria(the glory of world fades)." answers Max. Seemingly, they are talking about the abolishment of Latin; however, Max's response coincides with the death of Rosemary's husband and thus inspires Rosemary to get out of his shadow. Both Max's uniform and the setting of the field of Rushmore give Rosemary a intimate sense, no wonder she keeps her face smiling and her eyes flashing.The camera sets at the eye level for the whole scene, which gives the audiences a feeling of reality. In addition, the distance of Rosemary and Max is shorten: when they first meet, Max sits far up from Rosemary, yet they sit close together at the end of the scene with a imaginative back. If I were the director, I would have some students messing around with Rosemary to intense her alienation, and thus, stress her closeness with Max. Moreover, it could also be connected to the scene in book Hailsham, of which Kathy stands out and talks to Tommy while other students are teasing him.