Tuffy P bought a DVD copy of a film called M. Lazhar and tonight we watched it. It’s a Quebec film in French and we watched it with English subtitles. M. Lazhar had a limited run in theatres in the spring. Here’s a synopsis from Rotten Tomatoes:

In Montreal, an elementary school teacher dies abruptly. Having learned of the incident in the newspaper, Bachir Lazhar (Mohamed Fellag), a 55-year-old Algerian immigrant, goes to the school to offer his services as a substitute teacher. Quickly hired to replace the deceased, he finds himself in an establishment in crisis, while going through his own personal tragedy.

M. Lazhar is a lovely film. The interplay between Bachir Lazhar and the students (who are understandably freaked out by the suicide in the classroom) is very well worked out. His reaction to the kids and the situation is highly informed by his own difficult personal situation and as much as he helps the kids, they help him. The whole film is very well-written and well acted (by both the adult actors and the kids).

I’ll take a film like M. Lazhar over most of the action superhero type films that seem to dominate at the theatres these days. Highly recommended.