Department of Languages and Literatures Film Festival Series 2009-2010: The Class (Entre les murs, France, 2008)

Based on actual teacher François Begaudeau’s autobiographical book and with a cast of non-actor teenagers, this docudrama tells the story of a Parisian multicultural high school located in a rough neighborhood. With a teacher of French Literature at its center, the film slaps its audience with issues of race, social inequality, ethics & education, democracy and an occasional bitter-sweet wink. Among various distinctions, The Class has received the Golden Palm at the Cannes Film Festival (2008), the Lumière Award and the Étoile d'Or for Best Film (2009), the César for Best Writing-Adaptation (2009) as well as an Oscar nomination for the Best Foreign Language Film of the Year category. Dr. Rebecca Wilkin, Assistant Professor of French, will introduce the film. This film is shown in conjunction with French 301.