The Class

The people who didn't like this movie simply were watching the wrong movie. They wanted something more about entertainment. But then, why are you watching a French movie with subtitles? Hollywood makes the best of that genre. On the other hand, I never got bored watching this, and there certainly is development. It's just not a simple clean cut end. It's one bad teacher/ great filmmaker's reflection on his experience teaching in a difficult middle school. It's not a documentary. The teacher plays himself, and local kids play characters like themselves. It would be impossible to make a documentary like this. It's too true no school would allow it. No urban teacher, I know didn't identify with it. You want to know what it's like in difficult urban school with many cultures and teachers unprepared to deal with them? Watch this movie. You won't be bored at all. You want something "family friendly" that won't challenge your presuppositions. This movie's not for you.

This movie is for people who like to think. So, if you want a movie just to watch brainlessly then don't watch this. If you want to get an inside view on on student behavior this is an awesome film to do just that. It is not only an inside view on French students but also students in the US and many other countries. This is NOT a family film, I would suggest watching it with older children, but no children younger than a middle school age.

This movie is interesting for the first 5 minutes and then you see the same thing for the next 45 minutes. There is no sense of drama, no plot, no intrigue. It may be an interesting social commentary, but do not watch this movie for the sake of entertainment. And do not expect any inspiration. This is not a good teacher meets challenging class and turns lives around. While sadly this film may be a reflection of actual events, it does not make for an engaging movie.

It is helpful to have a film in our midst that has a lot of truth to it. It is full of emotional conflict and difficult issues. The diversity of cultures in France, and here in the United States, and around the world are challenging us in ways both old and new. Add to this the vulnerability of children who do not feel they belong in the country they live in, and who are trying to defend themselves and their "difference" and you have dramatic situations. This film captures it all beautifully. People who teach in these situations are astounding. Just trying to keep up with normally secure kids in a classroom is hard enough. Working with children who are insecure and defensive is like working with a keg of dynamite. The film feels very realistic. Choosing to use real people who can richly recreate these classroom situations is brilliant. I don't know how everyone became so professional for this film. Amazing. The film sits us right down in the midst of a reality and leaves us there. There is no romantic storyline, no thriller action, no distractions. There is only the reality of people trying to relate, learn and find a path through a web of contradictions and folly. It is a really helpful movie. There are no heroes or villains. There are just people trying to deal with life as best they can. If you are a thoughtful person, you will value the insights and honesty of this film. I only wish there were more of them.

“The Class” is a “documentary” clearly enacted, about modern French identity. These junior high students - non actors like the teacher - look pretty much like the fidgety progeny of Anytown, U.S.A. One difference being that these African, Arab and Asian Parisians live in a country that insists its citizens have only one cultural identity, even if it is an identity— as France’s smoldering suburbs vividly suggest — many of these same young people don’t feel welcome to share. So because of its documentary feel, it might be shocking, surprising for some of the viewers but this movie truly reflects a contemporary facet of French Society that is rarely seen abroad. Nothing like Amelie or The Chorus....

this movie was awesome!!!

I rented this movie thinking it would be great to watch with the family, but I was dismayed to find out that it wasn't. The plot is slow and the acting is slovenly. The teacher and his students never reach that point of understanding and frankly the movie creeped out my kids.

I saw it some moths ago. I believe this was one of the films of the last year, for sure the best in the Frenc industry and I would find only two or three films that I saw during the last year that I could compare to this one. I have to say that I loved departures, and I believe it's a very good film, but this film is far away of it and I don't understand why it didn't win the Oscar to the best foreign film. Well it's just sad that they put it not for rent.