Good teaching navigates a fine line between display and engagement. The classroom in which these students sit increasingly becomes a ‘stage’ for their teacher, François. The most dramatic and violent moment occurs when an African student from Mali, Souleymane, accidentally strikes a fellow pupil with his satchel. I should say that they did appear fairly motivated in comparison with some actual British student groups I have encountered. For the students are clearly caught within the confines of this educational institution, deemed to be in their interests. The French title, translating as ‘within the walls’, offers a more accurate rendition of the film. But this liberal ethos is undermined by the developments we see taking place in the classroom. The film appears to present a positive engagement of a liberal teaching approach with pupils from deprived situations. However, the mise en scène, especially the performance of a predominately non-professional cast, suggests a different ‘subplot’. This is fine in terms of an ‘official’ plot. However, his efforts to create a stimulating learning environment are continually undermined by the need to impose discipline on frequently unruly and insolent pupils.” ” He and his colleagues are shown teaching inattentive yet opinionated adolescents, some of whom have significant behavioural and personal problems.įrançois attempts to engage his pupils critically, using every opportunity to make them reflect on themselves and the subjects being studied. The Sight & Sound synopsis reads in part:

And the students are from a school in a Zone d’Education Prioritaire. Marin himself plays the protagonist François. The film is based on a book by an actual teacher, François Marin. The Class presents the audience with a year in the life of a suburban Paris school, focusing on one teacher, François, and the class to whom he teaches French.

And they are part of a long-running cycle in French cinema, reaching back to Jean Vigo’s Zéro de Conduite (1933) and continuing to the recent documentary success directed by Nicolas Philibert, Etre et Avoir (2002). Both are really interesting films dealing with education and teaching. I want to discuss the recent French film success The Class ( Entre les murs, 2008), but also an earlier and comparable film by Bertrand Tavernier.

Les choristes summary