The Class: Teenagers as they are

I really enjoyed the French film The Class which won the Palme D'Or earlier this year at the Cannes film festival and which has finally been released here in New York (it is France's official selection for the Oscars so hopefully it will expand to more theaters soon). The film is based on a loose, somewhat fictional autobiography/memoir of a French teacher François Bégaudeau, who stars as a version of himself in the film. The class that is the main subject of the film, as well as the other teachers in the film, are comprised of actual students and teachers from a middle school in the 20th arrondissement of Paris. This of course lends the film an air of realism which makes what's happening all the more interesting.

The film essentially follows the teacher and his class through a school year with all the rises and falls of various students along the way. Each of the students has a compelling story, particularly the troublemaker Souleymane and the quiet Wei. One of the most interesting aspects of The Class is the cultural diversity of its students and to see how their sense of cultural identity is explored through Mr. Bégaudeau's French literature class. There are many funny sequences in the film (including a discussion of the meaning of "Autrichien") but it is ultimately a serious look at the state of the educational system in France today given the diversity of its students. The full range of strengths and weaknesses of each character, including the main teacher, are on display which fill out a deep portrait of the school. There is definitely a sense that the problems which arise in the French middle school could just as easily arise in any inner city school in the U.S. which also gives the film an extra touch of interest and relevancy.

If the film comes around near you I definitely recommend it. To give you a taste, here's the preview: