Instead, you get a movie that's enjoyable enough, but leaves you feeling like it could have been much, much more.

Good films always raise compelling questions, whether the format is fiction or documentary fact.

I think this is a new genre that they're all sort of working their way through it and haven't got all the kinks worked out yet but it's a genre that works for me.

Strong acting helps the film overcome an uncertain premise and create characters that hold our attention absolutely.

So this is a dedicated teacher according to some reviews here. Makes me wonder what an undedicated teacher is like. If this bad school is what's good, I do not even dare to think what a bad school is like. From what I can see, it's the same old indoctrination going on here as I remember from my school-days. Not a word about the abomination of rich and poor that I hoped that I had learned something about when I went to school. No, no the same abuse of learning to accept injustice is going on here and there's nothing good about that. Just the same old brain-wash going on, in other words. I'd like to see the movie in which the teacher gets in trouble for telling the truth about our abomination of a society. This ain't it.

Wouldn't it be nice if instead of jamming the multiplexes to see mindless idiocy of most blockbuster movies, over-hyped reflections of our need to be constantly entertained, citizens could spend a few hours watching how children learn, getting to know what a quieter existence away from television might be like, getting a sense of community from a simple school room in France? Of course it would be nice if we all had free dental care, too, and a nutritious dinner fixed for us every night. But to the film: To Be and To Have is an amazing year's document inside a French classroom, where one patient teacher gives attention to the students who need it, teaches persistence and patience and co-operation, and does so without "no child left behind" gimmickry. He leaves no child behind, and if you take the time to immerse yourself in this slow, rewarding film, there are children you will meet and never forget. This film is quietly entertaining, highly educational, and reflects a kind of intelligent model for a civilized world.

This movie was a surprise find in the rarely used foreign film section of my usual DVD rental shop.The picture of innocence on the pupils face upon the DVD cover and the prospect of progressing my French vocab allured me to it.Since viewing it, really i should use the word; reliving,i have formed unexpected genial and sentimental memories of my own school days. This movie is essential viewing for any / all of us who have attended national or primary education. The realization that i alone could relate to each and every pupil, (and to the teacher), a similar person from my life and experience was overwhelming. i hold dear the joy of innocence and the reality of individuality portrayed in real life by all those who participated in this... exposition of the joy of obtaining and giving knowledge. the struggles were once my own, the humor warms me still, the knowledge is empirically embedded after the same such endeavor. i applaud this film and its' writer, director and producer. i know all its subject but by different names. i will re-watch it time and time again so that i may remain attached to the honesty of progress in life for us all via the altruism of dedicated teachers of knowledge and empathy.i hope my spelling errors do not influence your choice to experience this film.

10 stars may be a bit extreme, but I think it's better than some of the higher rating documentaries I've seen. I don't have kids of my own, so I can't relate totally, but this film gave me a new respect for teachers of youngsters. The teacher is incredibly patient and good to his pupils. I usually like action films or dramas, and I hesitated to watch a film like this. But even just the parts with kids just being themselves and saying some intriguing things makes me want to see it again. Even better than "America's Funniest Home Videos". This film captures kids and what they say at a very young age, during school. It perfectly balances the weight of seriousness versus hilariousness.