The Class

 

 

Create your own review

The ClassThe ClassThe Class [Blu-ray]
"The Class" portrays a high school teacher in his class and in his school from the start of one school year to the end, in France. It shows the difficulties that teachers encounter in this new context of all permissive society to children and adolescents, that have become the society of the "Old and New World". It is a very realistic aand true approach at looking at students, teachers, school systems, and how to balance the teacher's dignity confronted to the abusive behaviour of the students in a high school setting. You come out of the movie, wondering what will become of our society in just a decade from now, what kind of responsible (or in a matter of fact, in this case, irresponsible) adults we are fostering in our school systems in North America, including Canada, and in Europe. The teacher's role as educator and forming character for young adolescents, is totally strangled by the new evolving rules of the society and the governments, as far as education system is concerned. May-be the Governments and the parents should wake up from their candid view of what are the rights of students and what should be the consequences to their new acquired inability to take their studies in school seriously. A lots of food for thoughts, coming out of this movie, which is a must to see.

« Entre les murs » est un film qui montre un professeur de lycée du début à la fin de d'une année scolaire dans sa classe et dans son école secondaire, en France. Il fait apparaître les difficultés rencontrées par les professeurs dans ce nouveau context d'une société qui permet tout aux enfants et aux aolescents, qu'est devenue la société du « vieux et du Nouveau Monde ». C'est une approche très réaliste et véridique qui jette un regard sur les étudients, les enseignants, le système scolaire, et comment trouver un équilibre entre le maintien de la dignité de l'enseignant face à l'attitude abusive des lycéens. On sort du film en se demandant ce qu'il adviendra de notre société dans à peine une dixaine d'années, quel genre d'adultes responsables (ou je devrais dire dans ce cas, irresponsables) nous sommes en train de couver dans nos sytèmes scolaires, autant en Amérique du Norsd et au Canada, qu'en Europe. Le rôle du professeur, en tant qu'éducateur et formateur du charactère des jeunes adolescents, est complètement étranglé par les nouvelles règles, toujours changeantes, de nos sociétés et nos gouvernements modernes, en ce qui concerne les systèmes d'éducation. Les gouvernements et les parents devraient peut-être se réveiller de leur torpeur et de leur vue candide de ce que les droits des étudients devraient être, quelles genres de conséquences devraient être appliquées à leur récente inabilité à prendre leurs études sérieusement. Cela vous laisse à réfléchir en sortant de ce film, à voir à tout prix.

This is a phenomenal film. I saw it first in Brussels in the presence of the author of the original book, who also plays the main character, namely himself. He is a teacher in a "difficult" high school in the infamous suburbs (banlieux) of Paris, inhabited largely by second-generation French students. The students are sassy, resistent to learning in conventional ways, but imaginative, and ultimately loyal.

The author wrote the book based on his own experiences trying to bring these students round to appreciating their French language and literature. He takes no nonsense but loves the students and tries to challenge them. He told us after the screening that the students are not actors but actual students in a school of the type described in the film. There was no casting call, but the film team showed up in the school and announced to the students that they would be filming there in the summer and anyone interested in taking part should show up for a meeting the next afternoon. All who showed up were accepted, and instead of given a script to memorise, were given a scenario and told to act as they would in a real classroom in a similar situation.

The resuts are phenomenal acting, realism, and moving scenes. I have taught high school in a very different milieu and at times wish they had been as engaged and on their toes - even with the sass and impertinence - as these students are, instead of sullenly quiet and 'enduring' the class as many did. I recommend this to anyone who has taught or has children in school, or who believes in the potential of education to make a difference.

Although my students found Entre les Murs "boring" at first, eventually, they start to appreciate the message of the film: namely, they are watching themselves!! A very naturalistic look at what teachers have to endure nowadays. This film is great for both French language classes or any "social studies" class. Check out the "making of" section as well to discover how the students prepared to dramatize their in-class conflicts.

Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review

› See all 4 customer reviews...

 

2.0 out of 5 stars Plutot un documentaire qu'un film
Je ne comprend pas pourquoi ce film à gagné la palme d'or à Cannes. Plus près du documentaire que d'un film, sans histoire réelle, mais un... Read more

Published 23 months ago by Pierre Breton

Search Customer Reviews
Only search this product's reviews

› See all 4 customer reviews...

Search Listmania!