1205. Entre les murs

Entre les murs
The Class
2008
Directed by Laurent Cantet

Thank heavens there are people in the world who want to teach teenagers. I really couldn't think of a worse task and would probably be in tears within minutes of taking a stab at it. I was fully prepared for some sort of Dead Poets Society sentimental movie, where the white teacher would teach inner city kids that rap and Shakespeare aren't so different after all. What we got was a little more interesting. 

Francois Marin teaches mostly foreign born students the French language, and has to deal with the requisite problem children. But Marin himself isn't the saintly fearless teacher that we are often presented with in fiction.

I really enjoyed just listening to the conversations that happened in the classroom. It wasn't some free-wheeling place where everybody is able to express themselves without consequence. It actually reminded me of Philip Roth's The Human Stain a bit, as it examined the outcome of a well-intentioned teacher forgetting their audience for a moment, and having to pay a heavy price.

So an interesting film I was happy the List introduced me to.

RATING: ***--

Interesting Facts:

The translation of the French title is "Between the Walls."

The classroom conversations were largely improvised.