To Be And To Have

Synopsis: This semi-documentary film tracks one year in the life of a teacher, George Lopez, and his small single class school in Saint Etienne-sur-Usson, an isolated French mountain village.

Unlike most documentaries which usually have an expository narration, this one observes its subjects and the events in their small classroom fly-on-the-wall style,. There are only a dozen children in this class, ranging in age from 4 to 11. We get to see the children's personalities almost as if we were at an adjacent desk, and share with them their agonies and triumphs as they grapple with each small step on the road to learning. At times the film takes us to the students' homes where we learn more of their rural environment and backgrounds.

In the course of each day, every subject, from basic reading and counting for the youngest, through to maths and geography for the older kids is handled in a patient and dedicated way by the extraordinary George Lopez. His role is multi-faceted - teacher, mentor, philosopher, nurturer and confidante. His conflict-resolution skills are to envied - if we all grew up with such a coach the world would be a more tranquil place! We are privy to the children's fun times as a class - cooking pancakes together, tobogganing in the winter, going on a picnic in the glorious countryside. This holistic, individual-focused educational approach is a luxury seldom seen in our country, and something most parents would regard as priceless. The filmmaker also concerns himself with the concept of life as seasons and there are interspersed scenes of rural activities, beautifully composed and lyrically shot. These seasonal changes reinforce the inevitable march of time and the growing up of Lopez's young charges.

Some viewers might find Philibert's painstaking approach over-protracted - I found it utterly compelling, savouring each moment, relishing each child's idiosyncrasies, and finding myself totally in awe of Lopez. This film will not be everyone's cup of tea, but for teachers or those wanting to witness a microcosm of how one man can make a huge difference to young lives, it should absolutely not be missed.

 

 

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