Bachir Lazhar an Algerian immigrant is hired to replace an elementary school teacher who died tragically. While the class goes through a long healing process nobody in the school is aware of Bachirs painful former life nor that he is at risk of being deported at any moment. Adapted from Evelyne de la Chenelieres play Bachir Lazhar depicts the encounter between two distant worlds and the power of self-expression. Using great sensitivity and humor Philippe Falardeau follows a humble man who is ready to transcend his own loss in order to accompany children beyond the silence and taboo of death.
Review
This film won Canada's Genie for best film and deserved it. The story is simple and profound contemporary and timeless at the same time. After the suicide of a grade school class teacher a new teacher appears ready to take over the class. An Algerian immigrant Monsieur Lazhar brings such a deep humanity to his job that the traumatized kids are able to come to terms in some ways with what has happened. What they don't realize is how much their new teacher knows of their pain first hand.
Fellag's performance as the title character is note perfect and gigantic. The children are astonishing and the final scene the final moment will crush even the most stoic viewer's resolve not to weep.