Monsieur Lazhar
Dir: Philippe Falardeau
2012
*****
Philippe Falardeau's Oscar nominated Monsieur Lazhar is a delicate drama that is both original and heartwarming. For me its the antidote to all the sickly sweet Teacher dramas like Dead Poet Society that I dislike, even though everyone else seems to love. It's never over the top or preachy but always makes valued points and raises intelligent questions. The last scene is so powerful and yet so simple, it's a great example of subtle brilliance and perfect film making. It's also nice to see a film about a male teacher helping a student that isn't actually about something else. I find these days that where there are kids and male adults thing tern sinister and it's a trend I'm glad has been bucked here. It's one of the most touching films of the decade so far and an absolute joy to watch.