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The French-Canadian drama "Monsieur Lazhar," the last of this year's foreign-language Oscar nominees to hit theaters, is a gentle and powerful reminder to adults that treating children like children has its consequences.
A Montreal elementary school is rocked by tragedy on the first day of school: A popular teacher commits suicide, hanging herself in her classroom during recess. Only one student, Simon (Émilien Néron), sees her body. Another student, Alice (Sophie Nélisse), who followed Simon into the building because she's sweet on him, sees Simon's horrified reaction.
In the aftermath, the administration paints the classroom walls and mistakenly thinks it can whitewash the students' memories of their teacher just as easily. At the same time, no one comes forward to take the job of teaching the class — no one except Bachir Lazhar (played by the one-named Algerian actor/comedian Fellag), an Algerian immigrant with his own haunted past.
Lazhar is a tough teacher, giving the students a dictation assignment that's above their grade level. But, over time, the students learn to adjust to his methods, and he to theirs. What Lazhar sees, and the other adults in the school refuse to see, is how much the death of their old teacher is still affecting the class — and how much they need to deal with their grief directly.
Writer-director Philippe Falardeau, adapting a stage play by Evelyne de la Cheneliére, seems to speak the language of children fluently. He doesn't pander to them, or talk down to them, or dismiss their insights. In so doing, he draws touching and realistic performances from his young actors, particularly Néron as the guilt-stricken Simon and Nélisse as the quietly perceptive Alice.
Holding the movie together is Fellag, in a performance filled with dignity and quiet power. Fellag embodies Lazhar's despair and his deep understanding that suppressing grief isn't the same as alleviating it.
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'Monsieur Lazhar'
An unconventional teacher helps Montreal students overcome grief in this Oscar-nominated drama.
Where • Broadway Centre Cinemas.
When • Opens Friday, May 25.
Rating • PG-13 for mature thematic material, a disturbing image and brief language.
Running time • 94 minutes; in French with subtitles.