Review of The Class (2008) by Greg B — 09 Dec 2009

Dead Poets Society was a movie about a teacher who wanted to change the minds of his students. The film took place at a private school for boys and their parents had huge wallets and huge aspirations for their children. They weren't allowed to think freely, and their teacher, played by the energetic and passionate Robin Williams, taught them to think for themselves.

Entre le Murs seems opposite of Dead Poets Society.

We have a teacher and his students. The setting is a school in Paris, and its clear even before the students set foot in the classroom, based on a meeting between all the faculty, that the students cause problems. These are inner city kids, and they will rip you into shreds. The students play one part, and their teacher, Francois Marin, plays the other. We see a teacher crumble to shreds, and Francois seems to keep his head on his shoulder, however, Francois is struggling as well as the class creates conflict. Students talk back, and Francois tries his hardest to not use disciplinary action, because he knows that that won't truly teach them, and in order to let the students grow, they need to be in the classroom.

This film isn't about human growth or individuality, it's about getting to a place where learning can be achieved, and how, in the end, there is no way that can be achieved through a system where teachers argue what the best thing to do is, even though that is the best we can ever get. Entre les Murs doesn't eat you alive, but tension never felt so true. In the end, Dead Poets Society is just a story of fiction, and teachers will aspire to live up to what its themes are. What Entre le Murs is is a realistic rendition of that story. Don't be shocked if there is no happy ending; it's sad, but thoughtful and true that not much change can happen in a years time.