Monsieur Lazhar - Oscar Nominated Film

[samurainoir]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gjNCkxnT-xE

"Monsieur Lazhar," about an Algerian immigrant who helps a group of Montreal elementary students grapple with the sudden death of their teacher, has been a smash on the festival circuit and earned Falardeau a spot on Variety magazine's directors to watch in 2012 list.

Read more: Canada's 'Monsieur Lazhar' gets Oscar nom | CTV News

Well worth catching. I had originally seen the one-man stage play that this was based on last year, and they have done an incredible job of translating it into a movie that stands well on it's own.

Uplifting without violins or clever pedagogy, Monsieur Lazhar provides an original take on the inspirational-teacher genre. Its Montreal schoolkids aren’t impoverished underachievers, and their new supply teacher from Algeria (Mohamed Fellag) may be hiding secrets of his own, but they clearly need each other.

Monsieur Lazhar wins top prize from Toronto Film Critics Association | Arts | National Post