The Class - Review Thread

iv3rdawG · 11-02-2008, 04:55 PM

The Class is the 2008 winner of the Cannes Film Festival's highest prize, the Palme d'Or (Pulp Fiction, 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days). The story of The Class is a bit formulaic, as it shows a teacher and his class where there are students that don't behave as well as others. The difference is the school isn't located in a bad area and all of the teachers care deeply about each student. The movie starts as a new school year begins and ends when the school year finishes. Most of the story is seen through François Bégaudeau's eyes, who essentially wrote the book and the script aswell as starred in the film.

The Class has an extremely strong two acts but towards the end of the film it gets held up, mostly in the last fifteen minutes. This doesn't take away from it that much seeing how strong the entire cast of teenagers and adults are. We are able to learn about each one in detail through assignments they complete in the class and share. It's a film that can be show around the world and be understood everywhere. And I think people will be using it as a reference point for a "dysfunctional" classroom story, if you will.

Trailer here

9/10

Jack · 11-25-2008, 10:53 PM

The Class is about the (countless) struggles and (few) accomplishments of modern education. While the comparison could be made to the plethora of trite, over-written films about teachers dealing with troubled students, The Class separates itself from the tired genre for what it doesn't do. There is no big academic contest to train for, no guided tour into the rough home lives of the students, no revelatory moment where the students and the teacher are suddenly on the same page. Instead, we are pushed through the daily trials of a classroom in France composed of students from all types of backgrounds. Individual stories rise and drift out of frame, many left unresolved because the camera never leaves the school grounds. The effect is a sobering look at how easily children can be lost in the shuffle of the educational system. This is a graceful and moving film full of imperfect characters and honest situations that is never manipulative or saccharine. A rare gem.

A

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11-02-2008, 04:55 PM	#1
iv3rdawG Oh My Glob! Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Land of Ooo Posts: 15,455	The Class - Review Thread The Class is the 2008 winner of the Cannes Film Festival's highest prize, the Palme d'Or (Pulp Fiction, 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days). The story of The Class is a bit formulaic, as it shows a teacher and his class where there are students that don't behave as well as others. The difference is the school isn't located in a bad area and all of the teachers care deeply about each student. The movie starts as a new school year begins and ends when the school year finishes. Most of the story is seen through François Bégaudeau's eyes, who essentially wrote the book and the script aswell as starred in the film. The Class has an extremely strong two acts but towards the end of the film it gets held up, mostly in the last fifteen minutes. This doesn't take away from it that much seeing how strong the entire cast of teenagers and adults are. We are able to learn about each one in detail through assignments they complete in the class and share. It's a film that can be show around the world and be understood everywhere. And I think people will be using it as a reference point for a "dysfunctional" classroom story, if you will. Trailer here 9/10 __________________ Marina: "How had hate come to take the place of love?" - Olga Kurylenko in To the Wonder Tumblr \| Twitter \| Letterboxd Last edited by iv3rdawG; 12-05-2008 at 12:33 AM.

11-25-2008, 10:53 PM	#2
Jack Executive Producer Join Date: Jun 2000 Posts: 1,519	The Class is about the (countless) struggles and (few) accomplishments of modern education. While the comparison could be made to the plethora of trite, over-written films about teachers dealing with troubled students, The Class separates itself from the tired genre for what it doesn't do. There is no big academic contest to train for, no guided tour into the rough home lives of the students, no revelatory moment where the students and the teacher are suddenly on the same page. Instead, we are pushed through the daily trials of a classroom in France composed of students from all types of backgrounds. Individual stories rise and drift out of frame, many left unresolved because the camera never leaves the school grounds. The effect is a sobering look at how easily children can be lost in the shuffle of the educational system. This is a graceful and moving film full of imperfect characters and honest situations that is never manipulative or saccharine. A rare gem. A