On Tuesday, Dad, Stephen and I went to the Music Hall to see The Class. It’s based on the real experience of a high school teacher in Paris, but the setting could really be anywhere. The teens look, act and sound just like teenagers in America or England or almost anywhere else. They’re trying to find their identities while constantly feeling the pressure of their peers and parents. They want to assert themselves as fully grown people in a system that seems geared toward making them feel subordinate. They still need emotional support and affirmation, even as they shy away from the attention. The teacher plays himself in the film and the teens all give very natural performances. There’s not really any ‘plot’ to speak of, though things do happen. The entire film takes place inside the school. It almost feels like a documentary. And the ending will just about break your heart. A very, very excellent film.

the rest of the photos on flickr