2008 Fall/Holiday Preview: #16. The Class (Entre Les Murs)

#16. The Class (Entre les Murs)

Director/Writer: Laurent Cantet directs and co-writes the story with Robin Campillo. Screenplay cred goes to François Bégaudeau.
Producers: Caroline Benjo (Coco avant Chanel) and Carole Scotta (Vers le Sud).
Distributor: Sony Pictures Classics

The Gist: Based on Francois Begaudeau’s book “Entre les murs”, this follows the year in the life of a French schoolteacher (Francoise Begaudeau) working at a high-school in a tough neighborhood of Paris. Ethnicities, cultures and attitudes often clash in the classroom. As amusing and inspiring as the teenage students can be, their difficult behavior can still jeopardize any teacher’s enthusiasm for the low-paying job.

Fact: The book’s author Bégaudeau met Cantet as a fellow guest on a talk show. Bégaudeau wrote not only the screenplay but was the lead actor in this docu-drama.  

See It: Claimed Cannes’ top prize for a good reason. Sincere portrait a must for anyone who remembers the four walls of a classroom.  

Release Date/Status?: Opening the New York Film Festival and then coming to theaters December 12th.