MONSIEUR LAZHAR (2011)

Education, minorised languages and identity

Canada. Direction: Philippe Falardeau. Production: Luc Déry, Kim McCraw / Micro_Scope. Screenplay: Philippe Falardeau. Photography: Ronald Plante. Edition: Stéphane Lafleur. Music: Martin Léon. Cast: Fellag, Sophie Nélisse, Émilien Néron, Danielle Proulx, Brigitte Poupart. Running time: 94 min

LANGUAGE: French / SUBTITLES: Spanish

In Montreal, Bachir Lazhar, a 55 year-old Algerian immigrant, is hired to replace a primary school teacher who has died in tragic circumstances. His new pupils are still struggling to deal with her death, meaning that Lazhar’s charm and particular teaching methods are essential if they are to make it through the year. What nobody at the school knows is Lazhar’s traumatic past in his native country and his constant fear of deportation due to still not having the papers he needs to stay in Canada.