Ultimateserge’s Block

The Class March 8, 2009

Format: Documentary

Rating:

Directed by Laurent Cantet

Starring François Bégaudeau

Release date(s): September 24, 2008 (France)December 19, 2008 (U.S., limited)

“The Class” (titled Entre les murs in French) seems like an appropriate name for such a movie in a way. The movie seems like a drama, but as it advances forward, it shifts more toward a documentary.
The Class, simply put, is the every-day life of the pupils and teachers at an inner city middle school in Paris. The everyday happenings of their life are tension packed and unlike an American middle school or education system.

For someone who has lived in the Middle East for many years, such an educational system does not seem an oddity, but for many American audiences this may seem too out of touch. After watching this movie I was reminded how fun my friends back in Iran actually were. That said American teens fair better in terms of manners.
Another aspect that may be very insightful for American teens would be too view these kids poverty. I remember complaining how slow our internet was or how the laptops are difficult to work with. But “The Class” reminded me how some individuals may completely lack technology in their classrooms. One of the most engaging moments is the Computer Lab scene. In which a young student is waiting for one of his fellow pupils to finish his work so he can get on the computer. Such scenes that are scattered all over the motion picture, call attention the sense of well being that many of have acquired. Though there are always people better off than us, there are also individuals that are worse off; as a result we should always aim higher but also be thankful for what we have at the present moment.

This movie is a masterpiece most notably for its honesty. It never takes itself more serious than it actually is and it shows remorse in places where remorse may not be reasonable. Mr. Marin feels unflinchingly sad for the situation of his school may be it is in nowhere close to Mali’s situation. His student deserves to be rightfully punished, but in all fairness will this punishment ruin his life and make him rebel worse as an adult?!

Something that I found very refreshing was the teacher lounge. It was fun to see how hard these educators try to teach sense into these kids and how many of them see these hardworking men and women as pests that plan to ruin their lives. The parents are not much different than their good for-nothing children. They criticize the school in every possible way, yet seem shocked to hear that their sons and daughters are failing their classes.

The beauty of the movies is how the everyday problems of middle class Paris are showcased to us. Not one shot is placed outside the school, but it seems as if we have seen every Street and Avenue in Paris. Pierre Milon’s cinematography precisely tells us all we have to know about the financial and societal situation in these children’s mind, without sacrificing the premise of the movie.

Something quite disturbing about “The Class” is the patience that Mr. Marin has at all times. I would rather see him hit Souleymane in one of their incidents instead of calling the girls “skanks”. I agree that a teacher should never lose his cool with a student but Mr. Marin seems too patient for his own good.

It is actually quite comical the functioning of the School Board. As unbalanced as everything in the school may be, the School Board is comparable to a Senate Committee. It’s hilarious how everyone, from students, parents, teachers, and the supervisor decide if a Coffee Machine is necessary for the teacher Lounge or not. For sure an odd section in the movie but not without it comic relief.

I would like to see this movie win an Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film, but I doubt such a thing will happen. This movie is deserving of critical acclaim, but I am somewhat frightened what the Academy might think of such a masterpiece. For an American audience who has not seen such dire profanity in their school System and if they have, such precise punishments have not been placed, this film will seem too scripted or over the top. Another aspect that the Academy may not enjoy is the shift the movie makes toward mild documentary, a fact that is not evident in the first half of the film. But hey if a great movie like this won the Palme d’Or earlier in the year, is an Oscar out of reach?