Entre les Murs (2008)

 Laurent Cantet's "Entre les Murs"


One of the most interesting aspects of Laurent Cantet's 2008 French film "Entre les Murs" is the way in which Cantet creates intimacy. Based on the semi-autobiographical 2006 novel of the same name, "Entre les Murs" details the relationship of a teacher and his students within the classroom. The classroom of note contains many 'problem children' and the details of the experiences illuminate some of the complex discussions about the unique balance of trust and understanding in the education system. With a visual expression grounded in contemporary realism, "Entre les Murs" puts its viewer right in the middle of class time and all the notions that extend from its central theme are not espoused in some dramatic rhetoric or manufactured drama, but rather illuminates its themes through simply sitting in and observing extended scenes of class sessions.

The film centers on Francois Marin, a young teacher at a secondary school in a working-class district of Paris. Most of his students are 14-15 year old first-generation immigrants to France. Through his lessons and interactions with his students, his teaching methods and class engagement highlight his desire to balance himself between discipline and cooperation. However, when one student loses control of his temper, discussions arise amongst the teachers about how to deal with the problem. 

I found the scenes in which we are 'sitting-in' with the class the most compelling. Given that we are all former-students, it can be quite thematically relevant to merge your own personalized experiences with education with the format you see in the film. What struck me most was how open-dialogued the classroom was, with students and the teacher engaging in back-and-forth discussions with the material, rather than stoic and stiff lecturing. This back-and-froth and freeform communication about the subjects being taught arouses the intrigue of characterization with the students. As a viewer, I began to form unique perspectives on each students and thereby formulated differing associations of what kind of teaching style and material best fit for any one student. What emerges from these associations are understanding of culture, background, economic status, behavioral association, and other assortments of unique identity that can then be used to paint an abstract mural in your mind of a contemporary France (and more specifically, its youth). 

The stark realism, handheld camera, and tight framing all create an intimate space to really observe and identity with all the various characters. Through its various characterizations, unique understandings begin to form about the nature of education itself and how best to motivate, discipline, and communicate with people from varying backgrounds, class, etc. Through this notion, the film becomes a humanist piece. "Entre les Murs" is a portrait of young characters and our interpretation of the varied interactions allows for personalized engagement with the thematic concepts of lecture and guidance. It was a fantastic film and its personal, humanist, and intimacy all combine into a single, cohesive, and submersive cinematic experience. 



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