It demonstrates without overreaching what an actual teacher can do to shape lives.
To Be and to Have
An observation of the humanity of young people.
2002 · 1h 44m · Not Rated
Documentary
Directed by
Nicolas Philibert
Overview
The documentary's title translates as "to be and to have", the two auxiliary verbs in the French language. It is about a primary school in the commune of Saint-Étienne-sur-Usson, Puy-de-Dôme, France, the population of which is just over 200. The school has one small class of mixed ages (from four to twelve years), with a dedicated teacher, Georges Lopez, who shows patience and respect for the children as we follow their story through a single school year.
Director and cast
Critics on Rotten Tomatoes
Top critics, in their words
A counterintuitive film about a small schoolhouse in rural France, To Be and to Have gets its punch from simple scenes and conversations.
To Be and to Have is a movie every teacher should see, and every parent, too.
At times, it feels as stultifying as watching paint dry, without the recompense of sniffing fumes.
Watchful viewers -- particularly those with fond memories of a favorite teacher -- will be deeply moved by this film.
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