• The Class (2008)

    Francois Marin (François Bégaudeau) is a French language and literature teacher at an inner-city Paris high school. As the new school year begins, he introduces himself to his new class and begins the arduous process of reaching out to each of them. Marin encounters his share of problem students, teen violence, ethnic tensions between classmates and education barriers within the group, all of which test his patience and -- more importantly -- his resolve as an educator.

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The Class
92
metacriticBased on 31 Critics
74
Based on 105 Users

Release Date: December 19th, 2008

DVD Release Date: August 11th, 2009

PG-13 |2 hr 9 min

Plot Summary

Francois Marin (François Bégaudeau) is a French language and literature teacher at an inner-city Paris high school. As the new school year begins, he introduces himself to his new class and begins the arduous process of reaching out to each of them. Marin encounters his share of problem students, teen violence, ethnic tensions between classmates and education barriers within the group, all of which test his patience and -- more importantly -- his resolve as an educator.

Cast: François Bégaudeau, Esmeralda Ouertani, Rachel Regulier, Franck Keita, Wei Huang, Agame Malembo-Emene, Angélica Sancio, Arthur Fogel

Director: Laurent Cantet

Genres: Drama

Production Co: France 2 (FR2), Agence Nationale pour la Cohésion Sociale et l'Egalité des Chances, Haut et Court, Région Ile-de-France, CinéCinéma, Cofinova 4, Procirep, France 2 Cinéma, Canal+, Centre National de la Cinematographie, Fonds Images de la Diversité, Soficinéma 3, MEDIA Programme of the European Union

Keywords: 2000s , Spirited , Growing up , Transformation , Pursuit , School , Engaging , Gripping ,

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Ratings & Reviews

  • 100
    Joe MorgensternWall Street Journal

    The Class is clearly a microcosm of contemporary France, beset by social and economic tensions. More than that, though, it's a saga of education's struggles in many parts of the modern world. If only the film were pure fiction. show more

  • 100
    Roger EbertChicago Sun-Times

    The movie is bursting with life, energy, fears, frustrations and the quick laughter of a classroom hungry for relief. show more

  • 88
    Carrie RickeyPhiladelphia Inquirer

    French movies are not so neatly resolved. In fact, the point of many French movies, such as this provocative one from director Laurent Cantet, is that some problems don't have satisfying solutions - or resolutions. show more

See all critic reviews on metacritic.com

Awards

Nominated Foreign Language Film
Oscars Academy Awards (2008)