55 out of 100
Much less generic than I expected. But the best compliment I can give this one is that it's largely pleasant and well acted. The pleasantness mostly stems from how generally crowd pleasing and watchable classroom films tend to be, and the central theme of people of all ages coming to terms with loss that they can't help but feel responsible for and have to come to terms with, the latter of which is dealt with in a very respectably low key manner, with zero big weepy scenes, although a few too many on the nose ~Here Is What The Movie Is About~ dialogue exchanges. A nice step up from generic feel goodery, but it doesn't make too much of an impact on me. I can't imagine ever looking back on Monsieur Lazhar and saying anything other than, oh yeah, that was nice.

An unexpected gem. I mean, sure I expected it to be good, but not this good! It also surprised me in that it wasn't actually an inspirational teacher drama. It has a few of those notes, but really it's about a teacher who simply can't be broadly inspirational. The film ends up being a meditation on grief and a beautiful one at that. It's also got a few really wonderful child performances, including one from a girl who recalls a young Drew Barrymore, both in looks and talent.

I had to watch this movie because it was up against A Separation (2011) for best foreign film at the Oscars and cause I'm Canadian-Iranian. I was kinda disappointed due to the hardcore badass premise and amazing opening sequence which initiated the hardcore badass premise....but then turned into another weird and corny Canadian film. It just wasn't believable and I felt they could've taken it further to make the audience care more about Bashir by developing the story of his past.
Let me get one thing straight: those child actors were amazing specifically Alice (Sophie Nélisse). That little girl is insanely talented and I'm going to keep an eye on her career.

I'm not sure where the story meant to go, but the kids at least were fantastic.

This review reportedly contains spoilers. I can handle the truth.

This is such a smart and touching film. The polt is rather simple. A Quebec elementary teacher has committed suicide, and the school brings in an Algerian teacher to substitute the vacancy. The film basically revolves around the interaction between the Algerian teacher and those children. Although the plot is rather simple, it is really interesting to see writer/director Philippe Falardeau weaving so many different themes into the story. During this rather short film, you not only learn what is their opinion about suicide and violence, also you see what is the educational and multi-ethnic condition in Quebec looks like.

It has been told that the actor who plays the main character is actually a famous comedian in Algeria. He gives a wonderful performance as Monsieur Lazhar. We can feel his tenderness toward the student, his frustration when confronting with the parents, and his deepest sadness when reflecting on his past. The children actors are equally wonderful. Highly recommended!

'Ao Mestre, com Carinho' + 'Entre os Muros da Escola' = indicado canadense ao Oscar de melhor filme estrangeiro em 2012.

Kvalitatīvi veidots eiropas kino, kas neizceļas ne ar ko īpašu. Visas tēmas un situācijas jau tik apviļātas, ka nešķiet saistošas vēl vienā (iecerēts) iedvesmojošā un pozitīvā stāstā par skolotāju kā pasaules centru saviem skolēniem.

This differed so much from other films about children and teachers. What I liked most about it was that although it is somewhat of a tragedy, it is gentle and mature, in that it refuses to overwhelm the viewer with drama or indulge in pitying and emotional wallowing. The story moved me while remaining honest, and the kids actually acted and spoke like real kids: brutally honest, inconsistent, and vulnerable.

Rice Krispie Squares are like baklava Quebec style.

I had high hopes for this but was a little disappointed in truth. I just couldn't connect with the plot or the characters within the film's 90 minutes or so and was frustrated by the many strands of the story that went unexplored.

It was probably my own fault - I think I'd subconsciously assumed that the film would be up there with The Class, based purely on it being another French-language film set in a school. It wasn't.

Viewed on The Movie Network

A film about children having to learn to cope with death after their school teacher commits suicide in their classroom. Monsieur Lazhar is the replacement teacher.
Wonderfully acted by the children.

He aqui una cinta que nos presenta con una situacion dificil (el suicidio de una maestra) y simplemente observa su impacto en los estudiantes y maestros de una escuela. "Monsieur Lazhar" sigue a un inmigrante buscando olvidar su triste pasado y encontrandose con estudiantes en proceso de superar un trauma.
La pelicula podria haberse facilmente convertido en melodrama manipulador pero la historia esta escrita y dirigida con mucho tacto y conviccion y las actuaciones son excelentes. Esta fue una de las peliculas nominadas a mejor pelicula extranjera en los Oscares y es una propuesta envolvente y sumamente conmovedora.