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English Titles C

Class, The

Original title: Entre Les Murs
German title: Klasse, Die
France, 2008

Director: Cantet, Laurent
Age recommendation: 14 years and up

Synopsis:
'In addition to being one of the best school films of recent times, this is a troubling but gripping expose of the cultural and racial divisions crippling Europe. Intelligent, well acted and deeply discomfiting.' David Parkinson, Empire

The Class is based on an autobiographical novel by former teacher Francois Begaudeau about working at a tough multi-racial school in the Parisian banlieux. Begaudeau plays himself, or at least a version of himself, and the class of 14 to 15 year-old kids in the film is made up of non-professionals. The film starts at the beginning of the school year. Begaudeau's character, Francois Marin, is a thirty-something teacher of French language and literature whose sympathetic and relaxed manner takes his new class of students by surprise. But his classroom ethics are put to the test when his students begin to challenge his methods.

Festivals:
Cannes 2008 (awarded), Nomonation for Oscar 2008, Showcommotion Sheffield 2009

Website: www.entrelesmurs-lefilm.fr