Top 20 Films of 2008: #7 The Class

#7. My Cannes trip ended with this fly-on-the-wall-like, unimposing French film with characters that made me see the classroom, teacher’s lounge and the school yard from a fresh perspective. What is so surreal about the film is how authentic it is, and what is fascinating about Laurent Cantet’s grip is that a 2 plus hour film is the sort of film that “doesn’t feel like two hours”. The many exchanges between teacher and students has the same effect as a suction cup – you get sucked into the drama and it does so in such a facile way and ask very little commitment except sitting in your seat. There is so much to say about this unimposing gem.