The Class

Laurent Cantet's Oscar-nominated, Palme d'Or-winning drama is based on a semi-autobiographical novel (Entre les murs') by author and former teacher François Bégaudeau, who turns in a superb performance in the lead role. François Marin (Bégaudeau) is a teacher working in a multi-ethnic, inner-city Parisian school. The narrative covers a year in the life of the school, is shot entirely within its walls (as per the novel's title), and concentrates on the relationship between Marin and his pupils. His calm, persistent, innovative, liberal approach to teaching gradually engages even the most troublesome of his charges. But, during an uncharacteristically heated debate with two pupils, he lets fly an epithet that puts him in line for a disciplinary hearing that could destroy all his achievements. The majority of the roles in the film were taken by pupils (and their parents) and were semi-scripted, semi-improvised - adding a further degree of authenticity to this compelling work.