The Class

A real eye-opener (well for those who have no idea, how difficult teaching those classes may be, be it in France or other countries). There's nothing more satisfying then watching unprofessional actors do a great job, their performances were real and convincing and the script never felt heavy handed. A well-deserved Palme D'or winner.

A mediocre teacher oversees a class of moderately under-disciplined students, affecting their lives in no apparent way. Feel free to use my moist sigh of mild disappointment to buff your Palme d'or statuette, Monsieur Cantet.

The Class sets a goal, a quite challenging one, and by the end it has reached it beautifully. I was also surprised by how much I could take from it. Even being in a whole different country, the overall setting felt quite familiar.

What a fascinating film. It all feels very genuine, real people dealing with real problems and often coming up short. It's absolutely gripping from start to finish, the documentary style immediately plunges you into the lives of the staff and the children. By the end, there isn't a single one you don't care about. There were only a few moments where I could sense the writer's hand at work and for the most part I was thoroughly impressed with this film that left me with so much to think about.

One of - if not the best teacher in the classroom movies. My favorite of 2008 for its incredibly believable characters, quiet direction, and attempt at utter realism.