The Class
Screening: Monday 10 May 2010
France 2008.Director: Laurent Cantet.
Starring: François Bégaudeau, Rachel Régulier, Esméralda Ouertani.
Subtitles.
Certificate: 15. 128 minutes.
Synopsis
François Bégaudeau - a teacher and the author of the book on which this film is based - is totally convincing as the open-minded teacher, François Martin, who tries to control and teach a multicultural class of 15-16 year olds in a rough area of Paris. The film follows what happens over the course of a school year between the class and their teacher.Martin faces frequent verbal battles with his pupils who see his age and position of authority as a reason to challenge him, and his free-wheeling teaching style and willingness to discuss anything both serve and hinder the teaching process. His tendency to challenge and engage keeps things lively but can lead to confrontation and negativity. He finds himself arguing with the pupils he clearly wants to help, and in teacher conferences he argues with his colleagues who appear not to have sympathy for their students. He wishes to be a force for good for his pupils so is taken aback when they assert their autonomy and seek to have him punished for an ill judged remark.
Unique to the film is the fact that much of it occurs in the classroom and involves actual instruction and learning, plus the teacher and pupils are a real teacher and real pupils playing fictional characters. The film focuses only on the one class - a French language class - so we see how the emigrant children encounter classic French linguistic culture and how Martin actually convinces them to some degree of the value of standard French in a multicultural France.
Although set very much within the walls of the school (the French title is “Entre Les Murs”), there are references to the reality of life for those in the class from emigrant families and to the fragility of French residency. A pupil’s behaviour at school can have a serious impact on home life.
These 15-16 year old students bring strikingly to life the culturally diverse reality of 21st century France. The film is intelligent, well acted and deeply discomforting.
Notes
Laurent Cantet shot the film in long takes with 3 digital cameras on at all times, giving the feel of a documentary. In addition, he assumes a new style of filming here, moving away from his more formally written earlier films. He proves beyond all doubt that he has the ability to work in an improvisational manner.Cantet has created a discussion of workplace politics - he explores staffroom and classroom realities, resulting in one of the best school films of recent times.
