Academy Awards, USA 2012
| Nominee Oscar | Best Foreign Language Film of the Year Canada. |
Music Box Films
Directed by Philippe Falardeau
My rating: 3.5 stars out of 4
IMDb Wikipedia
(Blu-ray, Music Box Films)
After a school teacher hangs herself in an empty classroom, an Algerian immigrant is hired to replace her. While the elementary children deal with their own grief, he is dealing with the recent death of his wife and child back in Algeria and seeking political asylum. He is a natural teacher and has great empathy for the children. However, his style does not always adhere to the strict curriculum and he clashes with the principal. He does start a tentative relationship with one of the other teachers, but he can't open up to her. Back in the classroom, some of the students continue to grapple with their grief. Eventually, some parents find out his background and get him fired, but he has one last day in the classroom which he uses to great effect. Set in a cold, snowy Montreal, this is a very emotional film on many levels. Mohamed Fellag is excellent in the lead, as are several of the students, especially Sophie Nélisse.
No comments:
Post a Comment