Welcome back to another issue of Your Movie Mage, where I discuss underrated movies across genres. Last week we delved into the Halloween-esc, underrated sci-fi “Donnie Darko.” This week, we’ll be discussing another unknown film which has a sadder tone—“Monsieur Lazhar.”
“Monsieur Lazhar” is a French-Canadian film made in Québec that follows Bachir Lazhar (Mohamed Fellag), an Algerian man who left his home seeking a safer life in Canada. Lazhar’s family was killed in Algeria, so he is trying to get refugee status in Québec to remain there safely.
The plot follows Lazhar’s navigation of this tragedy and the difficulties of proving he is not safe in Algeria. He grapples with feelings of guilt and remorse, despite not being responsible for his family’s death. After the tragic death of a schoolteacher in Québec, he applies to fill the vacancy and gets the job. Lazhar is grieving the death of his wife and children, teaching a class of young students grieving the loss of their teacher.
The film explores the role of education in shaping the humanity of children. The dynamic between Lazhar and his students shows the complexity of student-teacher relationships, and how to teach and connect with them. We see more common challenges involved in teaching regarding parents and difficult students, although Lazhar doesn’t use common solutions. He refuses to label students as difficult like other teachers had.
Through one student, Alice, we learn about the profound impact teachers have on students. Alice connects more with her teachers than her peers and parent. The plot portrays Alice without using stereotypes, which is unlike usual representations of students like her.
The children express complex emotions without overarticulating or being unrealistic. Viewers understand what they are feeling and are reminded that children experience the same emotions as adults—they just aren’t listened to.
While this film was nominated for an Oscar, indicating reception of attention and praise, it is quite unknown. I have never met another person who has heard of or seen it. This could be because it’s in French, which may deter many English speakers, though I love it; it’s very helpful in learning Québécois, which differs from the French we are often taught in school. Québécois culture is also very intriguing but largely unknown in media.
The scenery in this film is incredibly well done. I’m biased because I love Québec and winter, but the way the film is shot is special. The camerawork seems to be mostly handheld, providing a more intimate and realistic shot. The coloring is dreary yet bright and almost blinding with the snow, reflecting the emotions expressed throughout the film. These techniques capture the feeling of adulthood and childhood all in one film. This successfully shows the viewers that we can feel complex emotions throughout childhood and adulthood.
The acting also stands out in this film, especially considering the cast is mostly child actors, and the portrayal of grief is powerful.
The story is unique because it’s very raw and intriguing, despite being seemingly slow. The ending is a mix of emotions, adding to the realistic portrayal of feelings. The introductions and explorations of each character are also strong, especially because there was a focus on several individuals.
A lot was left unsaid about the characters, as we were introduced to them without full knowledge of their past. Nevertheless, we are able to explore and engage with multiple themes throughout the film.
Even with the multitude of themes, the film still isn’t dragged out; it’s well-paced and doesn’t feel chaotic or overdone.
“Monsieur Lazhar” is very unknown but is a truly special film which deserves more attention. Those who have seen it recognize its greatness, so the ratings are high. It was nominated for an Oscar and did receive some accolades. For these reasons, I give it an underratedness score of 4/5. Every aspect of this film is so well done and comes together to create an interesting and impactful movie. If you had a teacher that profoundly impacted you, you should give this movie a watch.
This post was originally published on here
