Monsieur Lazhar

“Monsieur Lazhar” is about teaching and learning and their symbiotic needs. Algerian, Bashir is seeking political asylum in Quebec. He reads of the recent suicide of a local teacher and applies for the job. Because of budget concerns and the absence of other applicants the director hires him without a background check on a trial basis. He soon becomes involved over his head when the details of the suicide are revealed [she hung herself in the classroom minutes before the arrival of her young class]. The students, teachers and parents are all dealing with the tragedy in there own way and no one wants to talk about it. His compassion gets the best of him and he tries to help his class cope realizing full well that most of them are coping better than the adults. Bureaucracy comes charging in threatening the delicate balance he has created in his class. It is alternately sad and quite funny and Bashir’s past catches up with him. In order to spare the children another abandonment he asks permission to conduct one last class. This is a warm and lovely film told with grace and intelligence. I think it should be seen by all grammar school teachers and administrators and yes, by many of the students.