ADFF Film Review: Monsieur Lazhar

Film Reviews Thu, 13 Oct 2011 Written by Rasha
Editor rating
 
 4.0 User rating
 
 0.0 (0)
Monsieur Lazar (played by Fellag) (Picture: ADFF).

Screening on the opening night of the 5TH Abu Dhabi Film Festival - Monsieur Lazhar is a tragically charming tale of learning how to grow up and deal with the darker realities of life. Read below for triplew.me’s review of Monsieur Lazhar…

The film first premiered at the 2011 Toronto International Film Festival and won the Best Canadian Feature Film and has been selected as Canada’s entry to next year’s Academy Awards.

The story of Monsieur Lazhar is ordinarily familiar. Monsieur Lazhar is a classic coming of age story which explores the often challenging process across two levels; with children and with adults. Following the shocking suicide of an elementary school teacher, Bachir Lazhar – an Algerian refugee – is hired as the new class teacher. Mr Lazhar brings a lot of questions with him but he remains ever secretive about his past.

The children are naturally grief stricken after witnessing and experiencing the death of their teacher. Aggressive breakouts take place frequently, as the young students express their pent up frustrations regarding the bleak subject. That doubled up with the complications of Mr Lazhar’s stay in Quebec and his own personal heart-breaking backstory, the film subtly exhibits challenges of loss and the innocent questions about the urgency of life.

Monsieur Lazhar provides an intricate close-up look into the workings of the modern-day education system and the humanity of death which, ironically, brings people from different walks of lives together.

Beautifully directed by Philippe Falardeau and impressively acted by a talented ensemble which brings this ordinarily familiar story even closer to home.

STARRING

Fellag, Sophie Nélisse, Émilien Néron, Danielle Proulx, Brigitte Poupart

DIRECTED BY

Philippe Falardeau

WATCH THE TRAILER HERE


Editor review

A heartfelt, wonderful story

Rating:
 
 4.0
Reviewed by triplew.me
October 13, 2011
 
Last updated: October 13, 2011
What a film to kick off the ADFF this year - a warm and heartfelt story about loss, education and the human spirit. Wonderfully shot and acted, this film (already the likely entrant for Canada in the Academy Awards) will continue to touch audiences well beyond the ADFF.
 
 

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