'The Class' likely to have limited appeal

Director: Lauren Contet

Cast: Francois Begaudeau, Nassim Amrabt

This curious French film, which hovers between drama and documentary, was a Cannes Festival winner and has collected several other nominations and awards.

'The Class' is based on teacher-writer Begaudeau’s own experiences over a year in a multi-racial, tough Parisian school whose teenage students are largely uninterested in what he (here under the surname of Marin) has to teach.

It is a talky film set mainly in the classroom and gives a discouraging insight into the educating of the young who bring too much baggage to their task … too much cultural differences and too much attitude.

So much so that they ultimately rebel against his well-intentioned but fruitless methods.

The young students are collectively well played but unless you are heavily involved and passionately interested in education, the film will hardly appeal.

Star Rating: 3/5