Product Details

• Actors: Fellag, Sophie Nelisse, Emilien Neron, Seddik Benslimane
• Directors: Philippe Falardeau
• Format: Anamorphic, Color, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen
• Language: French
• Subtitles: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
• Studio: Music Box Films
• DVD Release Date: August 28, 2012
• Run Time: 94 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (67 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B0084O26SI
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #18,386 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Enthralling. In a class with the Francois Truffaut of The 400 Blows." --The Wall Street Journal

"Four Stars" --New York Daily News

"Four Stars" --The Washington Post

"Four Stars" --New York Daily News

"Four Stars" --The Washington Post

Product Description

At a Montr‚al public grade school, an Algerian immigrant is hired to replace a popular teacher who committed suicide in her classroom. While helping his students deal with their grief, his own recent loss is revealed.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

41 of 42 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Touching and subtle March 8, 2012

By Friederike Knabe VINE™ VOICE

Format:Blu-ray

How is a class of eleven/twelve-year olds to cope with a tragedy that suddenly and out of the blue takes away their teacher? How do parents and teachers react to the trauma the children are experiencing? The school principal is under pressure to keep things "normal", none of the other teachers can take on the class, one school councillor is designated for the class of twenty plus young minds - a crisis of great proportion... Into this challenging scenario walks Bashir Lazhar and offers himself as the ideal replacement teacher. With great subtlety and compassion does the film, Monsieur Lazhar, explore the evolving relationships between teacher and students, among various teachers and last but not least, between Bashir Lazhar at the school and his personal struggles beyond. While set in Montreal, Quebec, the messages of the film are nor locality specific, and could happen anywhere. The story touches on the different ways of dealing with loss and guilt, with honesty, lies and pretense, with prejudice and expediency. And finally, how the coping mechanisms of adults cannot easily be transferred to those of children living through a crisis. The story concentrates on two of the children, Simon and Alice, their growing hostility and Bashir's strict yet sensitive methods in dealing with the emotional struggles that the children go through.

Mohamed Fellag's acting in the role of Monsieur Lazhar is excellent, his interpretation of his character utterly convincing in his unassuming and often understated acting. The child actors, especially the two interpreting Simon and Alice, come across as natural and genuine. Philippe Falardeau, the film's Canadian writer/director came to international attention last year with his film "Incendies" that, like Monsieur Lazhar this year, was nominated for the Academy Award for best foreign-language film. [Friederike Knabe]

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Very touching June 9, 2012

By Donald Negri

Format:DVD

There is no shortage of good French language films about children and their teacher(s). Though this one is set in Montreal, it has many of the endearing qualities that French directors bring to their portrayal of the interaction between children and adults.

What makes this film excellent is its overall tone. It's touching, it's heartwarming and ultimately sad, but in an almost uplifting way. The acting - the children - is flawless.
And while the subject matter of death is at the core of the film, it is enveloped in a
feeling of awe and detachment at how the kids deal with it, and themselves, and a humanistic
portrayal of the teacher who has to take on the class following the suicide of their previous teacher. The teacher himself though has his own understated but real demons to cope with. But the heart of the film, including most of its scenes, take place in a classroom.

Technically, the film has a near perfect touch. Scenes end when "they should" instead of being drawn out for unneeded effect (and the ending included), histrionics are absent, and it flows like a calm stream with potentially turbulent undertones. It's a film ultimately about life, love, respect, hope and endurance.

It's a film you'll enjoy owning so that it can be viewed on multiple occasions. And being a foreign film, you can bet that most of your friends and family haven't seen it.

17 of 19 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Monsieur Lazhar -- C'est exquis! June 14, 2012

By Cojee Harjo

Format:DVD

And I don't throw that word around. Everything about this film is exquisite: the story, cinematography, editing, pertinence, depth, character development, acting, soundtrack -- and the French (my second language) is pristine. I don't recall breathing while watching it in the theatre, but I must have. The popcorn went untouched. I can hardly wait for the DVD!