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The Class
directed by Laurent Cantet from the book by Francois Begaudeau, who plays himself in this autobiographical semi improvised film. Takes place over a school year for a class of teenagers in a school in Paris. It starts with the teachers meeting at the start of the year when we get to see the teachers introducing themselves to the new teachers, and the cleaners getting the classrooms ready. Then Begaudeau, playing M. Marin, the French teacher, introducing himself to his class. Some he knows already from last year, some are new.
The film is all about the interaction of teacher and pupils and is a fascinating look at the dynamics of of the classroom, one which unless you are a teacher you never get to experience after you've left school.
Marin is a charismatic teacher with a lot of empathy for his multicultural class. Through some other scenes in the staff room and discussions with other teachers, we see Marin as a liberal teacher who places emphasis on his pupils individuality. His class is certainly full of big characters but Marin's methods deal well with teenagers full on moodiness and cofrontations are good natured. He seems to enjoy his questioning class, and isn't even phased by a lad asking him if he's gay, throwing it back at him to reveal the boy's prejudice. He still has to teach the very formal French grammar, and it's through this that we see the difficulties of teaching not only pupils from different backgrounds and cultures, but also the pressure of teaching traditional lessons to kids used to street slang. Present perfect subjunctive anyone?
Cantet has made a realistic film, which comes across in a very natural way. There's none of that awkwardness that a level of improvisation can sometimes produce. The use of Begaudeau to play himself is inspired, his enthusiasm and openness with the cast of non acting children is very engaging. The children themselves are brilliant too. There are some translation problems, for example I'm not sure how many non French speakers will be able to pick up on the disrespect shown to Marin by one problem pupil who uses the familiar 'tu' rather than 'vous'. In that scene it makes Marin look more confrontational than is warranted, but I guess that whole scenario is going to play out and get exacerbated by Marin's own behaviour in the final part of the film where his methods are called into doubt.
His high hopes for his pupils can make him feel betrayed, and conversely a teachers words can belittle or affect a pupil far into their lives.
That's how important a teacher is.
4.25/5
directed by Laurent Cantet from the book by Francois Begaudeau, who plays himself in this autobiographical semi improvised film. Takes place over a school year for a class of teenagers in a school in Paris. It starts with the teachers meeting at the start of the year when we get to see the teachers introducing themselves to the new teachers, and the cleaners getting the classrooms ready. Then Begaudeau, playing M. Marin, the French teacher, introducing himself to his class. Some he knows already from last year, some are new.
The film is all about the interaction of teacher and pupils and is a fascinating look at the dynamics of of the classroom, one which unless you are a teacher you never get to experience after you've left school.
Marin is a charismatic teacher with a lot of empathy for his multicultural class. Through some other scenes in the staff room and discussions with other teachers, we see Marin as a liberal teacher who places emphasis on his pupils individuality. His class is certainly full of big characters but Marin's methods deal well with teenagers full on moodiness and cofrontations are good natured. He seems to enjoy his questioning class, and isn't even phased by a lad asking him if he's gay, throwing it back at him to reveal the boy's prejudice. He still has to teach the very formal French grammar, and it's through this that we see the difficulties of teaching not only pupils from different backgrounds and cultures, but also the pressure of teaching traditional lessons to kids used to street slang. Present perfect subjunctive anyone?
Cantet has made a realistic film, which comes across in a very natural way. There's none of that awkwardness that a level of improvisation can sometimes produce. The use of Begaudeau to play himself is inspired, his enthusiasm and openness with the cast of non acting children is very engaging. The children themselves are brilliant too. There are some translation problems, for example I'm not sure how many non French speakers will be able to pick up on the disrespect shown to Marin by one problem pupil who uses the familiar 'tu' rather than 'vous'. In that scene it makes Marin look more confrontational than is warranted, but I guess that whole scenario is going to play out and get exacerbated by Marin's own behaviour in the final part of the film where his methods are called into doubt.
His high hopes for his pupils can make him feel betrayed, and conversely a teachers words can belittle or affect a pupil far into their lives.
That's how important a teacher is.
4.25/5