The replacement teacher in question is Bachir Lazhar. It's as if Robin Williams' John Keating was a French teacher at an elementary school rather than an American professor at a college. In fact, Mohamed Fallag's performance reminded me exactly of a less wacky Williams. While Bachir is a thoroughly compelling character-it's the kids that make the movie what it is. Every kid gets their moment to shine. None of these moments feel forced or cliche. These kids are also quite unpredictable. There is a scene that I choose not to give away, but I'll say that it involves a student who is more compelling than you thought he was.
The film also features an excellent range of emotions-it's funny, it's sad, it's touching. It's everything you look for in a movie of this kind. Everything in this film works-it's a charming little gem that deserves more people to see it. The film is also surprisingly exciting...it's a thrill to predict what Bachir is going to do next and where Bachir's life is going. As well, the second Bachir walks into the classroom and says that his name means "bearer of good news," we are completely engrossed by this man's methods and strategies of teaching.
There is much character development in Monsieur Lazhar, but none of these developments are from bad to good or vice versa. On the contrary, they are developments of the audience. We don't really acknowledge how magical these characters are until the movie is done, and when the movie is done, we applaud for what it has done to us.
(5 out of 5 Stars, The film is rated PG-13 for mature thematic material, a disturbing image, and brief language)
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