Etre Et Avoir DVD

Advantages: Great direction, great teacher, really touching film
Disadvantages: None - do NOT be put off by subtitles!!

Etre et Avoir Whilst browsing in the World cinema section of my local HMV I came across this film. The picture of the very cute looking French boy on the front made me want to turn over and read more about the film and eventually I was persuaded to part with money and buy a copy, being very annoyed at myself for missing an airing of this on terrestrial TV (BBC2). • Plot • It's actually a documentary, a fact you might not be aware of ...
...the DVD casing will soon clarify that. It follows a teacher - Georges Lopez - and his dozen-or-so pupils, in their single-class village school in the farming community of Auvergne in France. The children vary in age, starting from 4 going all the way up to about 10. We see their lessons, from the basics of learning to read and write, to tobogganing in the snow and baking pancakes. • Characters • In my opinion, it's the characters that ... Read review

Advantages: An observant, insightful and often funny documentary.
Disadvantages: Takes a while to get started

This documentary by Nicholas Philbert chronicles a year in the life of the sole teacher, Geroges Lopez, in a rural french primary school in the Auvergne. He teaches only 13 children ranging from the brand new four year olds to the 11 year olds preparing to transfer to the secondary school in the town. With each age group, Lopez exhibits a balance of tenderness coupled with a firm hand which succeeds in ensuring his small band of pupils live harmoniously ...
...tenderly observed, from JoJo, the youngest in the class, learning to read, write and count and win the approval of his teacher, to Natalie, a reticent 11 year old who is coaxed out of her shell by a gentle Lopez. We experience with the children visits to the countryside(and a terrifying moment when one of the youngest pupils, Alize, is lost in the fields), to a visit into town to introduce the 11 year olds to their prospective secondary school. ... Read review

Advantages: Passive, Thought-Provoking and utterly self-assuring
Disadvantages: There arn't many. Perhaps it not "an actual movie"

I'm only 16, turning 17 in a few weeks. I'm a total film buff and of all the movies I have seen since I was a little boy, this one made me think about the importance of family and life the most. This is not a hollywood, high speed action chased movie that is poorly scripted, badly directed and rushed. This is a heart warming documentary simply about the life of those who are remote and distanced from the city. A group of children who are taught ...
...is this a good documentary or film? Because it is passive. It is not rushed. The director allows the shots to breathe and to let the children of the school do what they do in everyday life. There are not thousands of cuts that throw you about and disorientate you. It makes you think, whilst totally relaxing you and provking emotions throughout. It is about the simplicity and values in life. With a fantastic shool teacher, a man of principles who ... Read review