To Be and to Have (2003)

Good movie but grossly overrated

Very interesting film. Was caught on the premise when seeing the trailer but unsure as to what the outcome would be for the showing. As it turns out, it was a very good film.

This is a gorgeous movie made by a gorgeous spirit.

It’s fine. It's literally the definition of a fine movie. You’ve seen it before, you know every beat and outcome before the characters even do. Only question is how much escapism you’re looking for.

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.

I was a bit puzzled as I began to watch this documentary - so many documentaries are of the "in your face" variety, and state their point of view early on; this film allows its them to unfold throughout, one bit at a time. For some reason I want to say that it was lovingly done - the director's approach was soft and familial, and the viewer comes to know and understand the life of this teacher, and his quiet passion for preparing children to enter the world.When I was at my university studying to be a teacher, the entire college of education was brought together to view "To Sir, With Love"; it was inspiring and filled us with enthusiasm for our future profession. As wonderful as "To Sir, With Love" is, I think that viewing this film is just as important for future educators. Sure, our circumstances are very different here, but our approach to children, and to life, can be the same in an American metropolis as it is in rural France. Definitely worth watching!

I can't say much about the film except that I love it. I don't want to come across like a 12 year old fan club president, but oh well. The main problem I have with many contemporary documentaries these days is that they tend to go for maximum entertainment, and little else. Overly slick, often gimmicky in nature, with flash editing and a cynical tone, they are instantly forgotten (i.e. Super Size Me, Inside Deep Throat, Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room, among many many others) To be and To have, beyond entertaining is an INSIGHTFUL look into us as human beings, I know I know, a movie about the human condition, sounds corny or worse dull but it is far from either of those adjectives. The film follows a class of kinder gardeners in the French rural countryside for a year. It is both profound and simple to watch these children learn the everyday lessons of life. Even more amazing is that it does so without becoming overly sentimental or sugary. The film's point of view inevitably takes on that of a five year old, finding magic and greatness in the everyday mundane aspects of life. Highlights: When the teacher explains the concept of infinity to the children. Marie and Jojo in general are a delight. The handwriting lesson as insight into personality. I could go on and on. Just see it

This sensitive chronicle of a year in a one-room classroom shows us a teacher who is humane, infinitely patient, and totally devoted to his children. His enlightened philosophy and love are clearly evident as he prepares his (often charming, sometimes troubled) children to be adults. He knows many things about his students that nowadays only the rarest of teachers would know.The film shows us gorgeous shots of pastoral serenity, but most of all, it took me back to the childhood that I would have wished to have had (but of course did not have). I wish that Georges Lopez had been my teacher. I would have learned French just to have been allowed to have had him as my own teacher (even now!). Monsieur Lopez is an irresistible teacher! This documentary film has humour and beauty; it shows us spiritual pain, problem-solving, and deep emotional growth. I found Être et Avoir deeply satisfying film, both aesthetically and pedagogically. Even though I was already a teacher, I learned a great deal about how a truly great teacher educates students. I was humbled to see the fruits of enormous patience and wisdom.