They do school films so much better in France, it seems. If the new term has you in the mood for some scholastic entertainment, you could watch Truffaut's The 400 Blows (1959) or last year's François Ozon comedy, In The House. But start with Etre et avoir (2002, below), a quietly enchanting documentary that revolves around Georges Lopez, the sole teacher in a rural village primary. Lopez's patience and modesty (and pedagogical beard) are so moving the the film could have been called "Au Revoir, M. Pomme Frites". Try not to think about Lopez suing the producers, unsuccessfully, for a chunk of the profits.
- 9/7/2013
- The Independent - Film
Paul MacInnes reveals the last of seven films to be offered for free to Guardian Extra members through Curzon on Demand
Nicolas Philibert's tearjerker about a one-teacher primary school in rural France is a reminder of our common humanity
• Click here for details on the Curzon on Demand streaming scheme
Sign in to Guardian Extra to get the promotional code and watch Être et Avoir on Curzon on Demand
If you like being on the verge of tears – and who doesn't? – then the last in our Curzon on Demand series is tailored specifically for you.
Être et Avoir is a documentary by Nicolas Philibert about a primary school in rural Auvergne. Well, it is in the sense that that's where it's shot. It's also about the relationship between the school's sole teacher, Georges Lopez, and the kids for whom he cares. In the sense that those are the most commonly recurring scenes.
Nicolas Philibert's tearjerker about a one-teacher primary school in rural France is a reminder of our common humanity
• Click here for details on the Curzon on Demand streaming scheme
Sign in to Guardian Extra to get the promotional code and watch Être et Avoir on Curzon on Demand
If you like being on the verge of tears – and who doesn't? – then the last in our Curzon on Demand series is tailored specifically for you.
Être et Avoir is a documentary by Nicolas Philibert about a primary school in rural Auvergne. Well, it is in the sense that that's where it's shot. It's also about the relationship between the school's sole teacher, Georges Lopez, and the kids for whom he cares. In the sense that those are the most commonly recurring scenes.
- 4/19/2012
- by Paul MacInnes
- The Guardian - Film News
From animation to epic sci-fi to intimate dramas, here’s our pick of the 50 finest foreign language films of the past ten years…
It is quite clear that mainstream cinema no longer applies just to Hollywood blockbusters, or the odd British comedy. With the advent of mass home cinema in the last decade, and the increasing availability of pretty much anything and everything on DVD, Blu-ray, or streaming services like Netflix, world cinema has finally crossed the divide of being the preserve of the connoisseur, or the type of thing you’d stumble on late at night on TV.
In the last ten years, world cinema has made a massive impact on film-of-the-year lists, and many people’s personal favourites. Starting from 2002 and ending here in 2012, it’s safe to say that you’ll have seen many of the films below, and enjoyed them simply as great pieces of filmmaking,...
It is quite clear that mainstream cinema no longer applies just to Hollywood blockbusters, or the odd British comedy. With the advent of mass home cinema in the last decade, and the increasing availability of pretty much anything and everything on DVD, Blu-ray, or streaming services like Netflix, world cinema has finally crossed the divide of being the preserve of the connoisseur, or the type of thing you’d stumble on late at night on TV.
In the last ten years, world cinema has made a massive impact on film-of-the-year lists, and many people’s personal favourites. Starting from 2002 and ending here in 2012, it’s safe to say that you’ll have seen many of the films below, and enjoyed them simply as great pieces of filmmaking,...
- 2/8/2012
- Den of Geek
The Nicolas Philibert Collection
Last Monday (27th June), a box set was released that contains four brilliant cinematic works. No, it wasn’t the much anticipated Pirates of the Caribbean ‘Quadrilogy’, rushed to DVD before the movie has had time to fail at the cinema. It was in fact a collection of films by French documentary maker Nicolas Philibert. And what wonderful films they are!
I can’t admit to knowing anything about Monsieur Philibert before watching these films but I can certainly say that I now want to see more. I set about choosing which of the four to watch first and somewhat predictably settled on the feature I was most familiar with (i.e. the most recent one that has had at least some press coverage); Nénette.
Nénette (2010)
At 70 minutes, Nénette is the shortest in the collection, but that isn’t to say it is lacking in any area other than length.
Last Monday (27th June), a box set was released that contains four brilliant cinematic works. No, it wasn’t the much anticipated Pirates of the Caribbean ‘Quadrilogy’, rushed to DVD before the movie has had time to fail at the cinema. It was in fact a collection of films by French documentary maker Nicolas Philibert. And what wonderful films they are!
I can’t admit to knowing anything about Monsieur Philibert before watching these films but I can certainly say that I now want to see more. I set about choosing which of the four to watch first and somewhat predictably settled on the feature I was most familiar with (i.e. the most recent one that has had at least some press coverage); Nénette.
Nénette (2010)
At 70 minutes, Nénette is the shortest in the collection, but that isn’t to say it is lacking in any area other than length.
- 7/9/2011
- Shadowlocked
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.