Last night I decided to watch Monsieur Lazhar, a Canadian film in French.
I thought I was selecting a good flick because, Monsieur Lazhar was nominated for an Academy Award, which it did not win, but it won a bunch of other movie awards around the world. I thoroughly enjoyed watching this sad movie. Monsieur Lazhar stars Mohamed Fellag, Sophie Nélisse, and Émilien Néron.
I thought I was selecting a good flick because, Monsieur Lazhar was nominated for an Academy Award, which it did not win, but it won a bunch of other movie awards around the world. I thoroughly enjoyed watching this sad movie. Monsieur Lazhar stars Mohamed Fellag, Sophie Nélisse, and Émilien Néron.What happens when a class of 6th graders lose their beloved teacher to suicide? What happens when an Algerian immigrant applies to be their new teacher in a culture he is just beginning to understand? What is behind the teacher's stillness, his smile and his sad eyes? This film is about love and loss, but also about hope.
Monsieur Lazhar has a striking opening scene. It is Simon's day to pick up cartons of milk and deliver them to his Montreal fourth-grade classroom before the school day begins. Looking in through the door, he realizes that his teacher has hung herself from a ceiling pipe. Only one other student sees this before the teachers usher all the students back into the playground.
This incident, reported in a Quebec newspaper, is the inspiration for Bachir Lazhar (Fellag) to present himself at the school principal's office and volunteer to teach the class. He is a legal immigrant from Algeria, he explains, where he taught primary school for 19 years. The principal is Mme. Vaillancourt, who like most school administrators these days, is rigid in conforming to the rules. Hiring Monsieur Lazhar is a bit of an excursion for her, but he is a well-spoken, presentable man and makes a good impression.
That's all that I will reveal. I highly recommend this movie.