Monsieur Lazhar is a gentle Algerian living in Canada who offers himself as a teacher at a Montreal school for juveniles after reading in the paper that a much-loved teacher has hanged herself in a classroom, traumatising the pupils.
To get the job, he lies about 20 years’ experience of teaching in Algiers. In fact, his Algerian past is murkier, since his wife and children were killed in a suspicious fire there. He proves to be an excellent substitute, though, particularly for the 11-year-old girl with whom the dead woman had a particular bond.
But he does unorthodox things such as cuffing a boy across the head and cuddling a child sympathetically. The principal, mindful of the political correctness that decrees you must not touch a pupil, is not impressed.
Writer-director Philippe Falardeau’s film, taken from a play, was Canada’s Best Foreign Film Oscar entry. Most deserving of the honour, though, is actor, comedian and writer Mohamed Fellag’s superb performance as the teacher. His sincere, unshowy acting takes the film up a notch. The children (especially Sophie Nelisse and Emilien Neron) are excellent too, while Danielle Proulx is convincing as the harried, suspicious but kindly principal.
Falardeau may not have made a film as outstanding as Ken Loach’s Kes or other classics about troubled children and education but has lessons for here and now.
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