Review of Monsieur Lazhar (2011) by Andy D — 24 Oct 2012

Falardeau explores an issue normally treated with so little delicacy but so much vigor with a sense of detail, skepticism and a respect for the unknown. The characters do not claim to know what the problems they each face are but rather seek to understand it.

Fellags character is played as one which comes off as a little rough around the edges with both his manner of communication and methods of teaching, someone who seeks something lost in the tumult of his worn-torn home.

One particular scene adds to the self-awareness of the film in which Lazhar speaks simultaneously to the characters of the movie and the audience: "Don't try to find meaning behind her (the teacher's) death". Falardeau wants us too to look away from the central event of the film, and instead look upon the deeper meaning behind what death means for each and every single character. The children themselves are acted with an uncanny maturity which speaks far above their ages, dealing with the events of the movie far more maturely than the adults themselves.

Beginning as a movie exploring the "adults just don't understand" viewpoint from the eyes of the adults, Monsieur Lazhar shows not just a failure to understand but a fear of the unknown that adults face when dealing with their own trauma, let alone the trauma of others and explores something much deeper than the death of the teacher in an attempt to explore the underlying theme of violence, hidden from the eyes of the cast and the audience, but its presence felt throughout the movie from the very beginning all the way to the credits.

This is not a film only about trauma or the trials and tribulations of moving on, but rather of those who seek to push their trauma and problems onto the people around them, restraining the adults and children of the film from growing out and moving forward.

While the film is paced rather oddly and leaves its deeper themes to the imagination of the audience upon its closing credits, Monsieur Lazhar which aired to huge acclaim in Sydney is a delicate drama which houses some great attention to detail, good writing and a wonderful presentation of the true stars of the film: the children.