Georges Lopez teaches. The point of Nicolas Philibert’s documentary, filmed for six months in Lopez’s little one-room schoolhouse in rural France, is to show us exactly what that means. Surrounded by a gaggle of kids ages four to ten, the stern but grandfatherly Lopez clearly lives for his work—and indeed, he literally lives above the schoolroom. He is retiring next year, we learn, and what that means for his life is anyone’s guess. To Be is charming but never cutesy, though it’s hard to resist a four-year-old named Jojo who has trouble finishing his coloring and can’t resist playing with the photocopier. The film begins slowly and doesn’t build toward any overt narrative point, the better to create a depth of characterization that makes perfectly clear the bond between Lopez and his charges. It’s the sort of film that makes you suddenly remember your favorite grade-school teacher and want to send him or her a little note saying Thanks for helping me learn to tie my shoes. Maybe you ought to invite them to this movie.
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To Be and To Have
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