Movie Review: “The Class”
Rating: 90
When documentaries stir the mind and soul, the best compliment is that they play like great drama, and of course the opposite is true: certain superb dramas that pitch toward uncommon realism are praised for playing like fly-on-the-wall docs.
“The Class” is a curious hybrid: a drama based on Francois Begaudeau’s non-fiction account of teaching in a multi-cultural Parisian middle school, with Begaudeau playing a version of himself. It’s mesmerizing because it often feels startlingly real, life-like as life itself.
Films such as “The Class” are so common they are practically a genre — from “To Sir With Love” to “Freedom Writers,” they’re all about idealistic teachers making a difference with underprivileged students. But director Laurent Cantet never makes it look like the formulaic melodrama in “Dangerous Minds” or “Lean On Me” was ever a choice. The teen actors talk and act like real teens in a slightly out-of-control classroom, not hardened prisoners. They are first-generation French — teenage children of immigrants who resent Francois for, as they see it, trying to force-feed them Western culture and behavior.
The film’s first act centers on Francois’ efforts to connect with students predisposed to ignoring him, and how he establishes bonds with some difficult pupils. These are problems that all the teachers face and discuss in the lounge, talking about their days with empathy and occasional resignation. When an immigration issue threatens the family of a gifted student, the teachers react with sadness and expression of hope, but the truth is that it is a common event and almost entirely out of their control.
“The Class” eventually focuses on the plight of one student, Souleymane (Franck Keita), whose defense of another student could result in deportation to Mali. But while this subplot sounds fairly conventional, it is viewed with an eye toward realism, and Francois is revealed to be anything but superhuman. From its hand-held camera work to its naturalistic performances, “The Class” is a work of distinction. It is clear-eyed look at school, which seems to have the same challenges in any country.
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