The Class

Director - Laurent Cantet

Starring - Francois Begaudau

This charming French film, based on the 2006 semi-autobiographical novel of the same name by Francois Bégaudau, chronicles a year of Bégaudau’s life as a teacher in an inner city Paris comprehensive. The film garnered rave reviews back home, going on to win France’s first Palme d’Or in 21 years at the Cannes Film Festival. Hinging around the simple concept of the day-to-day workings of school life, the film is beautifully executed and surprisingly dramatic. It manages to wholly absorb the audience into its world, and is mesmerising in its portrayal of the relationship between Bégaudau and his students.

As the film’s French title (Entre Les Murs/Between the Walls) suggests, the film mainly takes place between the four walls of the classroom of Mr. Marin (Bégaudau), the French equivalent of a Year 9 classroom, in a school set in the 20th arrondissement (district) of Paris. The issues of class and ethnicity are a main feature of the room, the students’ being generally second-generation immigrants living in a relatively poor banlieue. The film is shot in a realist style, and fits comfortably neither as fiction nor documentary, but rather follows a succinct plot that is high paced and gripping in its execution. Mr. Marin grapples with his students, who are capable of being both precociously insightful as well as frustratingly immature (as only teenagers can be). The banter between the teacher and his lippy students is punchy and amusing, and manages to avoid seeming contrived. Scenes of high tension with tempers flaring make way for some truly touching moments. In one scene the class rebel is congratulated on his work, and can barely contain a smile of pleasure. In another a Chinese student chastises his schoolmates for being too loud and vulgar, transcending the student/teacher divide.

The film also takes us to the teachers’ lounge, where we catch a glimmer of the frustration and patience it takes to survive the day. Tempers are lost, debates are held. One telling scene is reminiscent of 12 Angry Men, where teachers argue the direction to be taken with one particular troublemaker. The issue is complex and the outcome life changing for the student in question. You feel for all parties and understand both the conservative approach of one teacher and the liberal approach of another.
Laurent Cantet has made a gripping and incredibly thought-provoking piece of cinema, a unique insider view into school life. We are in the exceptional position of becoming at times the teacher, the student and even the parent in a variety of situations where all are ultimately engaged in a kind of battle with the education system. Finally, we are allowed to peek behind the headmaster’s door, into the PTA meeting, even into the teachers’ lounge. All round it is a wonderful film, which manages to beautifully capture its very human subjects.

Verdict - Don’t be put off by the “art house” subject matter. The Class is a wonderfully executed piece of thought-provoking cinema, which will draw you into its absorbing world.

4 Stars