4/5 cinema verite . . .
  by Ronald Scheer (Los Angeles)
This oddly named, Frederick Wiseman style documentary does a fine job of showing the daily life of a teacher and his students in a rural French school, with a few glimpses of their parents. M. Lopez is a dedicated teacher who rather masterfully manages the 13 students in his one-room school, while displaying no particular brilliance at doing more than keeping them orderly and occupied at not-so-interesting tasks. About to retire, after 35 years in the profession, M. Lopez may represent to conservative French audiences the value of "old-school" teaching methods, which produce a kind of regimented acquiescence in the presence of authority. The lack of restlessness among his young charges is remarkable, as is their frequent reticence, and one begins to wonder how much their behavior is influenced by the presence of a camera crew.

Having spent my own early years in a 2-room country school, I found it all vaguely familiar and somewhat unsettling, as these students seemed poorly prepared for the modern world. Meanwhile, the librarian at the middle school where they take a field day talks of all the books on the shelves, but there is not a single computer in view anywhere. The students in M. Lopez' school, especially the younger ones, are endearing and sometimes full of life - especially when they are outside of the classroom - but the quietude of the older ones is disturbing. Only one shows a spark of resistance - and is scolded for his "attitude" - and he seems likely to grow up a farmer like his parents who run a dairy, where education seems to be and have a low priority. In one scene we see the boy, maybe 10 years old, adroitly operating a tractor, though he's hardly big enough for his feet to reach the foot pedals.

As a documentary filmmaker, director Philibert captures much with his camera and edits it all together in a way that seems to catch life as it is lived - at the pace of life itself, often slow. Teachers (as some have already noted here) may well have reservations about it all. The DVD includes an informative interview with the director.

4/5 Bon education
  by Westley (Stuck in my head)
"To Be and to Have" is a somewhat unusual documentary, as it has no narration, very few interviews, and no profound message. Instead, we see the everyday events in a one-room rural French elementary school. The lone teacher, Monsieur Lopez, oversees all the educational activities of the children (about 12 in total from ages 4 to 12 years), which vary from French dictation to making crepes to a field trip to the bucolic countryside. He also lives above the school. The class is his entire life, and he's obviously totally dedicated to the students.

The cameras follow this class over the course of a year, which is also the second to last year of Monsieur Lopez's 35 years of teaching. Nothing earth-shattering happens - just kids being kids. The film focuses more on some students than others of course, particularly young JoJo who has difficulty paying attention. Although JoJo often takes up much of his time, Monsieur Lopez doesn't seem to mind, and he'll take extra time in the library to quiz JoJo on his counting and joke around with him as well. If only all classrooms allowed this kind of one-on-one interaction! Some of the other interesting students include withdrawn Nathalie, bickering Julien and Olivier, know-it-all Marie, and ghost-fearing Axel. A few of the students get little coverage, which made me a little sad, but I suspect that they get their fair share of attention in this warm, loving classroom.

Director Nicholas Philibert has done a superb job of filming this documentary. The look of it is unlike any other I've seen. After watching about 20 minutes, I questioned whether I had misread that it was a documentary, as it was so cinematic. I think many teachers will love this documentary, although some may find it too far removed from their experiences in crowded classrooms. Also, one shouldn't view this documentary as a lesson in how to teach - Monsieur Lopez's teaching style seems effective but is clearly not meant for everyone. Non-teachers who like kids will also greatly enjoy this one-of-a-kind film.


5/5 very cute!
  by Bridget Rollins (VA USA)
This is a cute movie! The kids are adorable! Keep in mind that it is a documentary and is slow every now and then. However, the overall effect is great.

5/5 Absolutely outstanding!
  by Mary Taylor (Round Rock, Texas United States)
To Be and to Have

This film is an absolute masterpiece! There is such depth and affirmation to the teacher and to all those who appear in the film. It is a common theme - striving to reach underserved or overlooked children - to light the fire of wanting to learn and finding the bright potential in each one. George Lopez is a remarkably adept teacher who doesn't need the latest gadgets to create lessons that connect with each child. Patience, courtesy, a master guide's knowledge of the steps necessary for understanding are his tools, and he is a master craftsman. It is one human really reaching out and touching the heart of another in ways that will change lives, ways that lift the very spirit of each child. How very many seeds he has sown! What marvels will they reap? What a gift this teacher and all who strive like him are to every student and community! It reminds you what a difference personal dedication and an inspired noble soul can make in a world all to fascinated by technology and temporal glittery things. Spoken words and questions. Handwritten lessons. Yet they are so profound. This is what education and the vocation of teaching should return to - what we desperately need to hold on to lest we lose our very humanity.



1/5 I don't get it.
  by R.P.D. (Germany)
I just do not get what this was about. I am a documentary collector and love the genre, but this one has me scratching my head. How did it get such great reviews? Let me spell this out - it is a very, very dull film. I wouldn't even recommend watching it on a rainy Sunday, let alone buying it.

All the way through I was wondering when the penny would drop and I would see what everyone was raving about. That never happened. And I bought this turkey. Oh well. Maybe someone will read this and won't get caught out like I was.

Anyone with a video camera could produce identical results by going to any school on the planet tomorrow. Kids, sitting around, learning. Wow.