Award winning French Canadian movie on at Old School

Movie Preview by Susan Guenther, Raglan Old School Arts Centre

Monsieur Lazhar is a complex story of compassion, empathy, healing and optimism. A group of young Montreal school children are profoundly disturbed by the suicide of their teacher. Bachir Lazhar, is the inspirational substitute teacher who helps the students cope with the emotional trauma.

But the story is not as simple as that. As Bachir Lazhar sensitively guides the students through a process of healing, his own secret painful past is revealed. Waikato Times movie critic Sam Edwards has awarded this film five stars and said, ‘In a very Canadian style, everything is pared to the essence. In turn that really focuses the audience the emotions and involves the audience in moving and positive relationships with the unique lineup of characters‘.

Lazhar is a 55 year-old Algerian immigrant facing perils of his own, and at risk of imminent deportation. As Lazhar helps the students handle feelings of abandonment and loss, he must also deal with his own recent personal tragedy, the horrific politically motivated murder of his wife and children in Algeria. Seeking political asylum in Canada, he adopts the vocation of his wife, as a teacher to these troubled Montreal school children.

Alice (Sophie Nélisse) and Simon (Émilien Néron), having been witness to their teacher’s tragic death, are particularly in need of help. The importance of a teacher’s role in emotional development is at the core of the film.

This moving story crosses generational and cultural boundaries in an insight into grief, guilt, violence and exile. In an era which encourages youngsters to be protected against the horrors of the real world, it raises the alternate view of truth and knowledge building resilience.

In French with English subtitles, this French-Canadian film depicts the complexity and breadth of human experience in two distant worlds. Adapted from an award-winning play by Évelyne de la Chenelière, acclaimed Québécois writer-director Philippe Falardeau has shaped a complex touching human drama.

Monsieur Lazhar
(M) mature themes 92 min 8.00pm Saturday 15 December and 4.30pm Sunday 16 December.

Raglan Old School Arts Centre in Stewart St.  For reserves phone 825 0023 or Email info@raglanartscentre.co.nz.